“They settle down and the supposed death of Michael Pendean blows over.  Jenny plays widow but spends as much time as she wants in her husband’s arms all the same; and together they plan to put out poor Ben.  He’d never seen Pendean, of course, which made the Doria swindle possible.  And a great point—­that only Michael himself can clear—­is the intended order of his murders.  That puzzled me a bit, because before Robert Redmayne appeared at Princetown and the reconciliation between him and his niece and her husband was affected, he must already have got the appointment of motor boatman to Bendigo and known that he was going there presently under a false name and character.  I incline to think that he meant to begin with the old sailor and that, when Robert turned up unexpectedly on Dartmoor, he altered his plans.  That accident opened the way to his first performance if I’m not wrong; but he’ll throw light on that assumption later and show what really did pass through his mind.

“Now we come to the preliminary steps at ‘Crow’s Nest’ which ended in the death of the second brother.  What plan was to be taken we cannot be sure, but your second visit to Dartmouth—­a surprise visit, remember—­quickened it.  You offered just the starting point; and before you left on that rough, moonlight night, Pendean had recreated the forgery of Robert Redmayne and appeared before you in that character.  And not content with this, he kept the part going for all it was worth.  As Robert Redmayne, he broke into Strete Farm and was seen by Mr. Brook, the farmer; while as ‘Doria,’ next morning, he comes to you at Dartmouth to tell you the murderer of Michael Pendean has reappeared.

“One may easily imagine the joy that he took in this double impersonation and how easy it was, with the help of his wife, to fool you to the top of your bent.  He had already derived the exquisite entertainment of seeing you jealous of his attentions to Jenny and suspicious that she was yielding to them; while she—­well, it is instructive to consider again her treatment of you.  Yes, a very great actress; but whether inspired by love for Pendean, or hate for her unfortunate relatives, or just pure creative joy in her own talent, who shall say?  Probably all these emotions played their part.

“Now we get to blindman’s-buff with the forgery.  Follow each step.  Bendigo never sees his supposed brother once; you never see him again.  Your united search through the woods is futile; but Jenny and her husband in the motor boat bring news of him.  She comes back with tears in her eyes.  She has seen Robert Redmayne—­the murderer of her husband!  She and the motor boatman have spoken to him; they describe his miserable condition and intense desire to see his brother.  They paint a wonderful and realistic picture.  Robert must see Bendigo all alone—­and he must have food and a lamp in his secret hiding-place.  He has been in France—­that was a sop for you, Mark—­but can endure suspense no longer.