"I am afraid I did it badly," said Francis, with a shudder; "it was a horrible task, yet necessary, as I thought when you saw nobody the next day you would think it was a dream or a hallucination."
"I did very nearly," I answered gravely. "And what about Paris?"
"Oh, that was very easy. When you said you were going there to look up Felix, I followed you to London by the same train and crossed over to Paris at once. At the Hôtel des Étrangers I found Felix had bribed the manager to send on those letters to Olivia. He, of course, thought I was Felix and talked quite openly before me. Felix had invented a very ingenious plot to enlist the manager in his service. What it was I need not tell you, but I told the manager what I wanted and he did it well. Of course I paid him lavishly."
"You mean he deceived me by saying you had been six weeks in Paris."
"Yes, and about my going to Italy. Of course when you saw me you thought I was really Felix, and that you were out of your mind."
"How could I do otherwise when your statements were backed up by the manager? I did not know what to make of it."
"Well, that's all I have to tell," said Francis, "and a lot of trouble it has been. I wish I had told you all at first."
"What about Rose Gernon?"
"Oh, she found me out and made believe I was Felix. She wanted to marry me, as you saw. I had great trouble with her."
"We'll settle her to-morrow," said I grimly. "But now, Francis, who do you think killed your brother?"