“I know, Miss Lucie,” I said. “But you must bear up against the terrible misfortune. We were both victims of an ingenious blackguard. What did you know of the fellow? I was under the impression that he was your friend?”
“Friend!” she echoed. “He always pretended to be—and yet he killed my poor father in secret, and tried also to take your life.”
“He believed me to be a friend of your father’s,” I said, “He told me so when I accused him of having poisoned me—he said his intention was to kill all your father’s friends, one by one.”
“He said that!” she gasped. “He actually told you that!”
“Yes. He admitted that he had poisoned me, and laughed in my face,” I answered. “But who is he? Where did you know him?”
“He was once my father’s most intimate friend.”
And while she bent over my bed, her blanched, haggard face near mine as she spoke, another figure came between myself and the light.
I turned, and saw that it was my friend the detective, while Lucie also recognised and greeted him instantly.
“As I was passing, I thought I’d just drop in and tell you, feeling sure you’d be interested,” he said, addressing me; “the fact is that this afternoon we’ve made a most amazing discovery. Perhaps you will be able to throw some light upon it. At present it is a complete and profound mystery.”