As Nick stepped into the room, the maidservant spoke to a lady sitting in the corner, telling her that Mr. Carter was there.
The lady arose immediately, and advanced to meet Nick.
At once Nick saw that she was Mrs. Constant in the life. Her face showed the distress she was suffering, for it was pale and haggard, and its lines deeply marked.
The resemblance between the woman before him and the one lying still in death in the room below was astonishing.
Mrs. Constant took Nick’s hand, attempting to speak, but broke into uncontrollable sobs.
However, she controlled herself in a few minutes, and said:
“This is the end, Mr. Carter. It is the last. It can go no further.”
“I cannot understand it,” said Nick. “The paper said it was you who was killed.”
“I wish it was myself who had been killed,” cried Mrs. Constant. “It was my twin sister, Ethel. But it was I he intended to kill.”
The word twin sister explained everything that had bewildered him, as in a flash.