Clarice quite intended to ask Ferdy what was the meaning of Zara's strange remark, but other things took up her attention, and for the time being she forgot the saying. As regards the murder, of course, neither Clarice nor any one else thought that there was any mystery about the death of Mr. Horran. Undoubtedly¹ Osip had killed him, in due accordance with the traditions of the Purple Fern. Only in this instance it was difficult to guess why the crime had been committed on an inoffensive man. The other seven victims, men and women, had been selected for their wealth, and in every case either the body had been robbed of jewellery, or the house of the dead--when the especial murder took place in a house--had been looted. In the case of Horran, nothing had been stolen, therefore robbery--as in the other cases--could not be the motive² for the crime.  
However, Clarice did not trouble her head much about the matter, although the facts of Mr. Horran (according to Ackworth) having been in the company of Osip at the Shah's Rooms, and the curious observation of Zara to Ferdy, might have urged her to make enquiries. Still, there was no mystery about the death, save the want of a motive, and, therefore, there was nothing to unravel³. Horran was dead, the hue⁴ and cry was out against his assassin, and two days after the inquest the funeral took place. Owing to the publicity⁵ of the death, and the respect in which Horran was held by his fellow-townsmen, there was a great crowd at the cemetery⁶. Ferdy acted as chief mourner along with Dr. Jerce, the life-long friend of the deceased, and Mr. Clarke read the burial service. Clarice, according to custom, stopped at home while her unfortunate guardian⁷ was being laid in his untimely grave. It was then that she remembered Zara's observation, and wondered anew what it meant.
 
Did the girl mean that now Osip was accused there could be no danger to Ferdy? Clarice asked herself this question, but without receiving any answer from her consciousness. The facts of the murder were sufficiently⁸ plain, save as to the motive, so in any case it had nothing to do with Ferdy. Moreover, if Zara meant that Ferdy was implicated⁹ in the matter--and on the face of it that seemed absurd--such an accusation¹⁰, if made, could be rebutted¹¹ by Clarice herself, since she had locked Ferdy in his room on the night when the purposeless crime was committed. Miss Baird used the word purposeless because she could not conjecture¹² why Horran should have been killed in so tragic¹³ a manner. Unless, of course, the motive for the committal of the crime was connected with Horran's acquaintanceship with Osip. Why the dead man had been at the Shah's Rooms, and in Osip's company, was yet to be explained, but only the assassin could give the reason for that secret visit to London, and he was not likely to come forward, considering that there was a price on his head. Clarice, at the suggestion of Dr. Jerce, had offered a reward of two hundred pounds for the apprehension¹⁴ of the man in grey, and the London detective, Sims, had gone back to Town with the firm determination to win that sum of money. But he admitted to Miss Baird herself, with a rueful smile, that it was like looking for a needle in a haystack to capture the remaining member of the Purple Fern Triumvirate.
 
As yet Barras had not put in an appearance, although he had been expected to be present at the funeral. A telegram from him stated that he would be down immediately afterwards, and would come to The Laurels¹⁵ to read the will of the deceased. There had been some difficulty in finding Mr. Barras in Paris, and only at the eleventh hour had he returned to England.
 
Meanwhile Clarice, in deep mourning, sat in the drawing-room waiting for the arrival of the solicitor¹⁶, and for the return of the funeral party. Ackworth had not come over to attend, as stern duty compelled him to go to Southampton with a draft of men for India. But he promised to return as soon as he was able. Clarice anxiously expected him, as she had much to say about the property and about their marriage. Especially about the latter, as, since the death of Horran, Dr. Jerce had too openly displayed his interest in the girl. It was, therefore, necessary to put an end to the doctor's hopes by announcing her engagement to Captain Ackworth.
 
While Clarice thought of these things, Mrs. Rebson, at her elbow, kept up a cheerful conversation about the truths enshrined in the pages of The Domestic Prophet. "One thing's come true, Miss," she said, briskly; "I only hope the other won't."
 
"What other?" asked Miss Baird, listlessly.
 
"Why, the disgrace, Miss. We had the death to an elderly man, who should have been beware of the midnight hour--death by a knife, too."
 
"Only it was an assegai," retorted Clarice, scornfully; "your prophet made a mistake in the weapon."
 
"The Domestic Prophet doesn't condescend¹⁷ to tell everything," said Mrs. Rebson, much offended, "but you can't say but what the murder hasn't taken place."
 
"No," sighed the girl, "poor Uncle Henry."
 
"We've had death and sorrow," went on the housekeeper¹⁸, relentlessly¹⁹, "and disgrace has still to come."
 
"Disgrace! What nonsense."
 
"So you said before, Miss. Don't scoff²⁰, when you know what's happened. Disgrace must come, as The Domestic Prophet plainly says." She turned over a few pages, and cleared her throat to read:--"If a crime of any nature has been committed by any person during the months of December, January, or February, that person, if hanged, will assuredly bring disgrace on those nearest and dearest to them. Let degenerates²¹ beware, says the seer."
 
"Oh, what rubbish."
 
Mrs. Rebson put the book in her pocket, took her spectacles off her nose, and rose in a stately manner. "Death has come," she said, in her most scathing²² voice. "Sorrow has come. You scoffed²³ at both, being hard of heart. Now disgrace will befall this house, and----"
 
"How can it?" asked Clarice, impatiently. "Osip doesn't belong to this house or to us. The disgrace falls on him since he is guilty."
 
Mrs. Rebson had no answer for this, so retreated with dignity, her faith in the Domestic Prophet still unshaken "Mark my words, Miss Clarice, disgrace is coming," and with that she left the room, much to the relief of Miss Baird, who was very weary of the gimcrack sayings and pinchbeck philosophy which Mrs. Rebson set such store by.
 
Scarcely had Mrs. Rebson departed, when Ferdy entered by the window. He looked tall and slim in his deep mourning, and very well content with himself. His grief for the guardian, who had been so kind to him, was apparently²⁴ swallowed up by the reflection that he could soon be enjoying two thousand a year. His first glance round the drawing-room was in search of Barras.
 
"Where's that lawyer chap?" asked Ferdy, producing a cigarette.
 
"He has not arrived yet," replied Clarice, rather disgusted at this want of feeling. "How can you talk so, Ferdy, when poor Uncle Henry is just buried? Tell me about the funeral."
 
"There's nothing to tell," said Ferdy, flinging himself into the most comfortable armchair; "it was much the same as other funerals."
 
"You have no heart, Ferdy."
 
"And no money," retorted the youth, coolly; "but that will soon be remedied, thank heaven."
 
Clarice could not help smiling to herself, in spite of her grief, when she thought of how Ferdy would be disappointed. It then occurred to her that he had some especial desire in wanting the money so badly, and, pending²⁵ the arrival of the lawyer, she asked questions. "I suppose you want your two thousand a year in order to marry Prudence²⁶."
 
"Perhaps," said Ferdy, cautiously.
 
"Perhaps," echoed his sister, raising herself angrily. "Why, you have proposed to Prudence."
 
"I know that, and I love Prudence. All the same, a proposal doesn't invariably mean marriage."
 
"Oh," said Clarice, in disgust. "Then you still hanker after Zara?"
 
Ferdy lighted his cigarette calmly. "I don't know what you're talking about," he observed, obstinately²⁷.
 
"Mrs. Rebson says that you are always at the Savoy Hotel."
 
"She had better mind her own business, the interfering²⁸ old cat," was Ferdy's retort; "besides, Zara doesn't always live there."
 
"She lives in town, and so do you, I know, Ferdy; I dare say you see a lot of her there."
 
"Oh! Has Jerce told you so?"
 
"No. But I am certain that you are familiar with her."
 
"Are you, indeed?" said Ferdy, in an aggravating²⁹ tone, "and o............