CHAPTER XXXI.
A STRANGE CONFESSION "I, Jabez Clyne, write this confession in my prison cell, of my own free will, and without coercion from any one; partly because I know that the evidence concerning my share in the Vrain conspiracy is strong against me, and partly because I wish to exonerate my daughter Lydia.
"She is absolutely innocent of all knowledge concerning the feigned death of her husband and his actual existence in a private lunatic asylum; and on the strength of this confession of mine--which will fix the guilt of the matter on the right persons--I demand that she shall be set free.

It is not fair that she should suffer, for I and Ferruci planned and carried out the whole conspiracy.

Well, Ferruci has punished himself, and soon the law will punish me, so it is only justice that Lydia should be discharged from all blame.

On this understanding I set out the whole story of the affair--how it was thought of, how it was contrived, and how it was carried out.

Now that Count Ferruci is dead, this confession can harm no one but myself, and may be the means of setting Lydia free.