"My God," he muttered, "this is worse and worse. I knew Amelia had a twin sister, but understood she was dead."
"Dead as Helena Dicksfall, not as Lena Sarschine."
"Could Lady Balscombe have had any interest in her sister's death?" asked Norwood, in a puzzled tone.
"For heaven's sake don't make her out to be a murderess," said Sir Rupert vehemently, "she's bad enough as it is, but surely she would not go so far as--as---murder."
"I don't know," said Dowker brutally, "they both loved the same man, and when women are jealous, well there's the devil to pay."
At this moment a servant entered with a telegram which he handed to Sir Rupert. Tearing it open the baronet glanced hastily over it and then sprung to his feet.
"Now we will know the truth," he said triumphantly.
"What do you mean?" asked May, trembling in every limb.
"Simply this," said her guardian, crushing up the telegram in his hand, "the Seamew is on her way to England."