"His name was Claude Deseret, of course."
"Iris," said Arnold, taking her hand, "this is the last proof. We have known it for four or five days, but we wanted the final proof, and now we have it. My dear, you are the cousin of Clara Holland, and all her fortune, by her grandfather's will, is yours. This is the secret of the safe. This was what the stolen papers told you."
CHAPTER XIV.
THE HAND OF FATE.
At the first stroke of noon next day, Arnold arrived at his cousin's house in Chester Square. He was accompanied by Iris, by Lala Roy, and by Mr. Frank Farrar.
"Pray, Arnold, what is meant by all this mystery?" asked Clara, receiving him and his party with considerable surprise.
"I will explain all in a few minutes, my dear Clara. Meanwhile, have you done what you promised?"
"Yes, I wrote to Dr. Washington. He will be here, I expect, in a few minutes."
"You wrote exactly in the form of words you promised me?"