"No," said Prudence, quickly; "if you will refer to the newspaper report, Clarice, he really said that Mr. Horran declared that he had not given Mr. Barras permission to lend the money at ten per cent. So that agrees with what you say. Mr. Barras was allowed to make the loan, but charged ten per cent. on his own account, so to speak."
Clarice nodded. "Well, then, Uncle Henry told your father not to worry, and said that he would write to Mr. Barras."
Prudence nodded. "Yes, I remember."
There was a pause. Then Clarice said, impatiently: "Well, then, my dear girl, if matters were thus adjusted by my Uncle Henry and your father, I don't see what motive Mr. Clarke had to kill my guardian."
Prudence thought for a few moments. "Clarice, it may be that my father did not tell the exact truth about the interview at the inquest. You see, he wished to avert suspicion from himself."
"But he was never suspected."
"Wait, Clarice. My father was very much agitated after the interview with Mr. Horran, although he said very little about it to me. I heard no more about the matter until the inquest, when father gave his evidence. I thought that he spoke truly, until----"
"Until what?"
"Until that woman called to see me, while everyone was at the funeral."
Clarice started. "Woman--what woman?"