Winter stole a look at him, but he ignored the fact—­“and changed my clothes.  In England, at night, a man in evening dress can enter almost any house.  When I returned I carried my bag with me, as I did not know how I might wish to get away subsequently.  I saw the preparations for the ball.  They helped me.  David Hume’s unexpected appearance at midnight upset my plans.  Waiting near the gate, I witnessed Alan’s meeting with a girl in a white dress.  Whilst they were talking, I ran up to the house and found David asleep in the library.  I resolved to act boldly.  Even he would not know what to do if he suddenly discovered another Frazer in the room.  To force open the drawer I picked up the Japanese sword, and knew it as belonging to my house by the device on the handle of the Ko-Katana.  The thing inspired me.  I obtained the papers, and was going out when I met Alan.  He had seen what I was doing.  He called me a cur, and the memory of my ancestor’s vengeance rushed on me, so I struck him with the knife, and left it resting in his heart as he fell.  Afterwards it was easy.  No one knew me.  Those who had seen me thought that I was either David or Robert Hume-Frazer.  I depended on the police and the servants to complete the mystery.  They did.  I saw David meet the same girl in a white dress near the lodge, so I sent the post-card which I made Jiro write for me.  He wrote it badly, which was all the better for my purpose.  I meant David to be hanged by the law; then I would marry Margaret.  That is all.  Give me some brandy.  I am dreaming now.  I can see curling shapes.  Ah!”

He gulped down half a tumblerful of raw spirits hastily procured by Brett.  Again he attempted to shake off the torpid state that was slowly mastering him.  He lifted his eyes feebly to Brett’s face, and his face contorted in a ghastly smile.

“You!” he croaked.  “I should have killed you!  You carried my stick that night in Middle Street.  Why was I not warned?  Did you follow the girl from the hotel?  I was a fool.  I tried to stop the inquiry by getting rid of David Hume-Frazer.  As if he had brains enough to get on my track!  About that girl!  She believes in me.  She does not know anything of my past.  Do not tell her.  Try to help her.  She is coarse, one of the people, as you say here, but she has courage and is faithful.  Help her!”

His head drooped.  The action of the brandy, whilst momentarily stimulating the heart, helped the stupefaction of the brain.  It was a question of a minute, perhaps two.

“Why did you come here to-day?” asked Brett quickly.

“To see Margaret She would give me money.  I was going away.  That man—­I threw from the train—­was her husband?  He was not—­a proper mate—­for a Frazer—­or a Hume.  We are—­an old race—­of soldiers.  We know—­how to die.  Four of us—­fell fighting—­in Japan.  I am dying!  What a pity!”

His head sank lower.  His breath grew faint His voice died away in unintelligible words.  After a brief silence he spoke again.