Clear remained in the Silent House, drinking himself to death; Mrs.Clear looked after Vrain in her Bayswater house; and I, in my old-man disguise, remained in Jersey Street, although at times I left there and went to see my daughter.

All this time Lydia had no idea of what we were preparing.
Then I began to grow wearied of the position, for Clear proved tougher than we anticipated, and showed no signs of dying.

In despair, I thought I would give him the means to kill himself.
"Mind, I did not wish to murder him myself; but the man, when in his drinking fits, thought he was attacked by enemies, and when in a melancholic frame of mind, on recovery, would frequently hint at suicide.

I therefore thought that if a weapon were left within his reach he might kill himself.

I don't defend my conduct in this case, but surely this drunken scoundrel was better dead than alive.