"Stop! Stop!"
"No. I must try and harden you, as I have taken a fancy to you, for your boldness and for your cleverness in using the stamp to implicate me. It's a pity we can't start the Syndicate again, with you and Jerce and Barras. Upon my word," said Osip, musingly, and lighting a cigar, "it would be a splendid idea, and no one would suspect. We made heaps of money, you know, Mr. Baird. Some of the people we killed were put out of the way by the desire of relatives, who paid very largely for the crimes. I have saved money myself, but have not enough. Clarke--or Exton, as he called himself--was a spendthrift, and indulged in swagger things. You remember the gold box--a neat design, but risky, wasn't it? Clarke's idea--poor ass."
"And the stationery?" asked Clarice, recollecting the superfine paper upon which the letters had been written.
"Clarke's also, but I rather approved of that, as I like to do things neatly. Of course, you saw the stamped fern I sent to your guardian, Mr. Baird. It was a hint that he should look out, as I guessed that Jerce, having the stamp, intended business. I also sent the letter to Ackworth, forbidding him to marry your sister, unless he wanted to see you in the dock."
"Why did you do that?"
"I wanted to make Miss Baird--your sister--think that Jerce was mixed up with the Purple Fern business, as I guessed that she would recognise the paper of the stamped fern and the paper of my letter to Ackworth to be the same. You see, I have been trying all along to get at Jerce, and learn why he wished Horran killed, and how he managed to make use of you. Besides, I want money. Jerce has money, and so has Barras. I will get large sums from both, as soon as I can prove that they are mixed up with Horran's murder. You committed it, so you must confess all. If you don't, I'll leave England, but before leaving I'll send a note to Scotland Yard telling the truth. Then both you and Zara will be arrested."
"She is innocent, as I am."
"Oh, she is innocent, of course," said Osip, easily, "but I dare say the police can build up a case against her, since she was near the scene of the crime, and practically saw you commit the murder. She could be brought in as an accomplice after the fact, you know."
"Did she--did she-see me--commit the crime?" stammered Clarice, hoarsely. "Well, no; but she saw you stamp the corpse, and--"
"Stop! for heaven's sake stop!" cried the girl, and, sick with fear for her miserable brother, she fell forward on the Turkish table, and on her outstretched arms, not insensible, but nearly so. By this time the Desert was crowded with people, and many were wandering aimlessly here and there near at hand. Camels were grunting, mules squealing, Arabs shrieking, nautch-girls were dancing, and the busy, glittering life of pleasure hummed everywhere with feverish persistency. Osip, rather amazed at what he took to be Baird's unmanly weakness, was about to stoop and raise "him," when he saw Ackworth running rapidly forward. He did not know the soldier, but saw that some man was bearing straight down on him. "A trap--a trap," said Osip, with a glare at Clarice, and she overheard.