I had a brother's antipathies and rightful suspicions.

I could not see how that ring came to be where it was, when the only one interested in its restoration was in prison." This was a direct blow at myself, and of course called Mr.Fox to his feet, with a motion to strike out this answer.

An altercation followed between him and Mr.Moffat, which, deeply as it involved my life and reputation, failed to impress me, as it might otherwise have done, if my whole mind had not been engaged in reconciling the difficulty about this ring with what I knew of Carmel and the probability which existed of her having been responsible for its removal from her sister's hand.

But Carmel had been ill since, desperately ill and unconscious.

She could have had nothing to do with its disposal afterwards among the flowers at her sister's funeral.