"Yes. Hence it was supposed that he had been stabbed by some jealous Italian, who had followed him and the lady. But the truth was never known. I think myself that Vane was murdered on the parade and that his body was thrown over onto the beach. The man who killed him must then have taken away the lady."
"Who was the lady--the blue domino?"
"No one ever learned. She was cloaked and masked. Your father was a gay man, George, and it was rumored that he was in love with the wife of a certain officer. It might be that the husband--but of course I cannot say. The blue domino may not have been the woman in question. The whole thing is a mystery. Your father's body was taken to England, and as Lord Derrington refused to acknowledge the marriage, Lockwood took charge of you."
"I remember, and Jane Fraser was my nurse for many years. She was at San Remo when the murder took place?"
"Yes, and so was Eliza Stokes."
"What was she doing there?"
"Well, this waiter--by the way, his name was George also, although you were called after Lockwood's father--well, George Rates, seeing that Eliza was dismissed, got her a situation at a hotel in San Remo. He came there also during the season, and I believe the two married. But Eliza Stokes never came near your father."
"What became of her afterward?"
Ireland hesitated. "I can't say," he said.
"But I can," observed George, coolly. "She was murdered the other day at the Amelia Square house as Mrs. Jersey."