DR. JERCE EXPLAINS
Ackworth and Clarice looked at one another dumfounded, and Dr. Jerce, with considerable amazement, looked at them. Finally, the eyes of all three rested on the object picked up by the girl. It outwardly appeared to be a snuffbox, and, with its surface of dull gold, wherein the amethystine fern was delicately set, looked an exquisite specimen of the jeweller's art. But to Jerce there seemed nothing about it to startle the young people. Yet Anthony appeared grave and Clarice even frightened.
"One would think you had picked up a serpent," said Jerce, jestingly; "what is there about that snuffbox which frightens you?"
"The Purple Fern!" she replied, pointing to the amethysts.
As the doctor still seemed to be puzzled, Ackworth explained. "Do you not remember those murders of a year ago?"
"Murders? Oh, er--yes. There was much in the papers about them, but I read the public journals very little. All my time is taken up with medical works. Just refresh my memory, will you, Ackworth? The dead bodies were stamped with a fern, weren't they?"
"Yes--on the forehead. Seven people were stabbed to the heart. One in Kensington Gardens, one in the Strand, one in a house at Hampstead, and one--"
"Yes! yes! I remember now," interrupted Jerce, impatiently, "but the murderer was caught and hanged, if I forget not."
"One murderer was caught," said Anthony, with emphasis, "but he had accomplices, whose names he refused to reveal."
"Really. But there have been no more murders since."