"Blackmail," muttered Anthony, with disgust, and swiftly writing.
"Yes, I told you that the Jekyl side of my character was unpleasant, Captain Ackworth. Well, then, Barras cooked the accounts----"
"I thought so--I said so," muttered Clarice.
"Then you are very clever," said Jerce, calmly, "for Barras managed to conceal things in a wonderful way. Of course, when Horran became ill, and gave Barras a power of attorney, it was easier to deceive him. And Barras also deceived you, Miss Baird, clever as you thought you were. Your ignorance of business helped him."
"I quite understand," said Clarice, coldly; "a girl such as I am, was unequal to such clever scoundrels. You got the money."
"And I spent it," said Jerce, coolly; "forty thousand pounds. Barras gave me the money as it came in, and used some himself. He made up the story about giving it to Horran in gold----"
"So that we might be deceived," interposed Miss Baird. "Well, we were."
"Oh, don't blame yourself," said Jerce, in a jeering manner; "Barras would have cheated a much more clever person than you are, Miss Baird, with the facilities at his command--Horran's illness, the power of attorney--no one to interfere, and all the rest of it."
"Spare me more details, Sir Daniel. You got the forty thousand pounds and spent it. Then you determined to kill Uncle Henry."
"I did, because he was getting dangerous. Barras, according to Horran's wish, had given Clarke here one thousand pounds--but on his own account he charged ten per cent. Clarke tried to see Horran, but to keep back that fact I used my medical power as Horran's physician to prevent an interview."