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 here, he might have observed that Quinlan had been broken by the death of his grandson in flames following the loss of his own son in the Iroquois fire."

"Then father sent Quinlan to the Rock?"

Agnes looked to her son. "You weren't sure, were you, that Quinlan meant to go to the Rock?"

"No. You remember he was in the neighborhood when we got here," Barney reminded Ethel.

"Your grandfather was excited about it; Quinlan may have had some vague idea of doing for your grandfather; and your uncle warned your grandfather. Maybe Quinlan went to the Rock only because he'd seen lights there. But your grandfather didn't know how much, or how little was up. He sent Kincheloe to find out; and I've always figured Kincheloe got frightened and killed old Quinlan without much reason.

"I know no more about that," Agnes went on. "I was in New York and was not brought to Chicago till the next week. The London letters, and the stir in the supernatural, began making a plan for me. With no other idea than to strengthen the belief that I was dead, I had had Huston manipulate a report of a message from my spirit; this reached the Cullens, and when they took it as they did, my way was easier. Of course I wanted to justify my father; but he was dead and forgotten by every one but me. I wanted to punish Lucas Cullen, but he is near the grave; what most I wanted was—my son! And Lucas Cullen was the only living witness of the truth of how he came honorably to be mine! I had to make Lucas Cullen attest that truth; I knew no other way!"

Barney bent over and kissed her. "That's all now, mother."

"You understand, Ethel?"