Otherwise, she threatened that
mother should have no rest. What could I do? It was the only way to
save ourselves. Well, I promised to go upon the stage, for this
woman fancied she discovered some talent in me. Why, Jasper, how
strangely you are looking!"
"Tell me--tell me," I cried, "who is this woman?"
"You ought to know that, for you were in the box with her during most
of the first night of 'Francesca.'"
A horrible, paralysing dread had seized me.
"Her name, and his? Quick--tell me, for God's sake!"
"Colliver. He is called Simon Colliver. But, Jasper, what is it?
What--"
I took the chain and Golden Clasp and handed them to Claire without
speech.
"Why, what is this?" she cried. "He has a piece exactly like this,
the fellow to it; I remember seeing it when I was quite small.
Oh, speak! what new mystery, what new trouble is this?"
"Claire, Colliver is here in London, or was but a week ago."
"Here!"
"Yes, Claire; and it was he that murdered Thomas Loveday."
"Murdered Thomas Loveday! I do not understand." She had turned
a deathly white, and spread out her hands as if for support.
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