"Perfectly ridiculous!" replied Clarice, quietly.
"And yet," hesitated the soldier, "would anyone bring forward such a direct accusation, unless she had evidence to go upon?"
Clarice, who had been musing, looked up, "Why do you say 'she?'"
Ackworth pointed to the caligraphy of the letter, which lay on the table before them. "The handwriting is like that of a woman."
"Men and women write exactly alike nowadays, my dear. Besides, if a woman had written it, she certainly would have assumed even a more masculine style of writing."
"Then you think that the letter was written by a man?"
"Of course. Can't you think of a man who desires to prevent our marriage?"
Ackworth considered for one moment, and drew inspiration from her steadfast eyes. "Dr. Jerce," he said, suddenly.
"Sir Daniel Jerce! Give him his proper title!"
"What makes you think that?"