"On the night of March 14th, the night I said good-bye to you at the Gare de Lyon, I made a sudden decision to take up my brother's work and live his life. He has been dead a couple of years. I happened to be attacked by a couple of apaches, and that gave me the opportunity. I contrived evidence of a violent death, and then cut loose entirely from the name of Clifford Matheson. You would be given leave by the courts to presume death, on the evidence of my coat and stick left by the river-bank at Neuilly. You would come into my money and property, and you would be free to marry again if you chose."
Olive had become very thoughtful. Her chin was buried in her hand. When she spoke again after a few moments' pause, it was in a strangely altered tone.
"Why did you come back?" she said.
"Because Larssen was using my name in a way I won't countenance. I was forced to return in order to put a stop to it."
"Was that the only reason that made you return?"
"Yes, that was it."
"You came back because Mr Larssen called you back?"
"Because I found that he was having me impersonated, and using my name illicitly."
Olive turned on the shipowner with a sudden wild fury, her eyes shooting fire and her lips quivering. "Why did you have Clifford impersonated?" she hissed out.
Larssen was taken aback at this utterly unexpected onslaught. "That's his version!" he retorted.