"What!" cried Alan and Sophy in one breath. "Was Lestrange the Quiet Gentleman?"
"Yes," replied Blair, with triumph. "He confessed as much to Barkham here. That was why he wore the gray wig and beard and assumed dumbness--oh, a most effective disguise; quite a different person he made of himself! He came down to keep a watch on you, Mr. Beauchamp, in order to plunder you when he thought fit. Your unexpected death took him by surprise and upset his plans. Then Barkham, as Jean Lestrange, arrived at Southampton, and our Quiet Gentleman disappeared from his rooms here, to reappear from London in his own proper person, as Captain Jean Lestrange. No wonder that, with so carefully-prepared an alibi, we did not guess it was he who had been masquerading here."
"Ha!" exclaimed Alan, "and he stole the key of the vault?"
"Mr. Barkham can explain that, and other things," said Blair significantly.
"Wait!" cried Sophy, rising excitedly, "I know--I know! It was Lestrange who murdered Dr. Warrender!"
"Yes," admitted Barkham, "he did."
There was a deep silence, which was broken at length by Beauchamp.
"The scoundrel!" he said hoarsely, "and I let him escape!"
"What!" cried Blair, jumping up. "You let him escape, Mr. Beauchamp--and when you knew that he killed Achille Lestrange?"
"It was my wish," struck in Sophy; "I thought he might repent."