So, fearing that he might ultimately discover the fraud and
foil our plans, my father and I jointly murdered him by a slow process
of poison. Then, with the necessary papers in my possession, and plenty
of reputable witnesses from Eden to swear that I was the acknowledged
son of the Rev. James Convert, at the age of twenty-one I took
possession of my grandfather's vast estate in England.
"'But the fear of the rightful heir turning up sooner or later to expose
the fraud began to haunt me, and, feeling my insecurity as long as he
was alive, I began a long and tedious search for John Convert, which
extended to all parts of the world, and covered a period of over twenty-
three years, with the sole purpose of killing him if found.
"'In the meantime, fearing that my father might become conscience-
stricken sooner or later, and make a confession of our crime to the
authorities, I killed him also; and of the three murders, of which I am
now responsible, I feel less concern over my father's death than of the
other two; for was it not from him that I inherited the instincts to
lie, cheat, steal, and murder for money, and by his instructions that
these instincts were developed, instead of being discouraged from
infancy?
"'Well, although I searched in nearly every nook and corner of the
globe, I was unable to find even a clue to my missing cousin, but during
that time a most peculiar affair happened, which resulted in my killing
a third victim.
"'As you will remember, I met and became infatuated with you in Paris
over three years ago, and then followed you to Chicago.
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