You knew that Clear was slowly dying of consumption and drink, so you trusted that he would die as Vrain; that Mrs.Vrain--who I believe is in the plot--would recognise the corpse by the description in the newspapers; and that, when Clear was buried as Vrain, she would get the assurance money and marry you." "That is clever," said the Count, with a sneer.
"But is it true ?" "You know best," answered Lucian, coolly.

"However, all turned out as you expected, for Clear died as Vrain--or rather was murdered at your command, as he did not die quickly enough--his body was recognised by Mrs.Vrain, buried as her husband, and she got the assurance money.

The only thing that remains for your conspiracy to be entirely successful is that Mrs.Vrain should marry you; and--as I was told by Mr.Clyne--that has pretty well been arranged." "Do you think, then, that Clyne would let his daughter marry a man who has done all this ?" said Ferruci, who was now very pale.
"I don't believe Clyne knows anything about it," replied Lucian coldly.
"You and Mrs.Vrain made up this pretty plot between you.

Vrain himself told me how you decoyed him from Salisbury, and took him to Mrs.
Clear's, in Bayswater, where he passed as her husband, although, as she confesses, she kept him as a kind of prisoner." "But this is wrong," cried Ferruci, trying to laugh.

"This is most foolish.