“He will, Margaret.  You have done no wrong that deserves so much suffering.”

For a little while there was silence.  Frazer was only able to whisper gentle and kindly words of consolation.  He would have given ten years of his life to have the right to take her in his arms and tell her that, let the world view her conduct as it would, in his eyes she was blameless and lovable.

But this was denied him.  She was the wife of another, of one who, instead of shielding and supporting her, was even then engaged in plotting her ruin.

“I nearly went mad,” she continued at last, “when I first became acquainted with the truth concerning my parentage.  With calmer moments came the reflection that, after all, I was my father’s child, the sister of Alan, and entitled morally, if not legally, to succeed to the property.  My wealth has not benefited me, Robert, but at least I have tried to do good to others.”

“You have, indeed,” he said tenderly.  “But tell me about this fiend, Ooma.  You say you saw him.  Then you were in possession of his address?”

“Yes, during the past five months.  When Mr. Brett first appeared on the scene, I feared lest he should discover my secret.  How could I connect it with the death of my brother?  The explanation given to me was that the documents were purloined by a servant years ago.  It was not until the attacks on you and Davie, and the chance mention he made of some curious marks in a type-written communication received by Mr. Winter, that a horrible suspicion awoke in my mind.  I had received several type-written letters” (Mr. Jiro, it would appear, had not told “evelything” to Brett), “and I compared some of those in London with the description given by Davie.  They corresponded exactly!  Then I resolved to make sure, no matter what the risk to myself, so I went to a place in Kennington the last night we were in town, and there I saw Ooma.  Oh, Robert, he is so like you and Davie that at first it seems to be a romance!  Only you two look honest and brave, whereas he has the appearance of a demon.”

Frazer looked at his watch.

“Brett ought to know all these things at once,” he said.  “Let us walk back to the hotel and wire him.  Perhaps it will be necessary for David and me to return to London immediately.”

“Why?  You are safe here?  Why should you incur further risk?”

He could not help looking at her.  A slight colour suffused her face.  Then he laughed savagely.

“There will be no risk, Rita.  Once let me meet Mr. Ooma as man to man and I will teach him a trick or two, if only for your sake.  The law will deal with him for Alan’s affair.  He has an odd name!  It has a Japanese ring, yet you say he resembles our family?”

Margaret, of course, could only describe him in general terms.  As they returned to the hotel she explained her strange story in greater detail, largely on the lines already known to Brett.