"Yes, the devil-stick. I got it from the assassin of Mr. Alymer!" "The assassin--you know the assassin? Who is he or she?" "It is not a woman, but a man. Battersea!" CHAPTER XV. CROSS-EXAMINATION. Major Jen sprang to his feet with a loud cry. This information that Battersea was the criminal took him so utterly by surprise that for the moment he was tongue-tied. Then, when he recalled the feeble and emaciated form of the old tramp, when he recollected his weak intelligence, he altogether declined to believe that such a creature, one so wanting in activity, could have conceived and executed a triple crime--the theft of the devil-stick, the murder of Maurice, the stealing of the body. Battersea had not sufficient craft or strength to do such things. With a shrug of his shoulders the major resumed his seat. "You must be mistaken, Lady Meg," he said in a quiet voice. "Whosoever may be guilty, Battersea, for physical and mental reasons, must be innocent." "That you must prove," replied Lady Meg, dryly. "And in accusing Battersea I go only on your own premises. You said that the man who stole the devil-stick, who had it in his possession, must be the guilty person. You see the devil-stick there." She pointed to the table. "Well, I obtained that from Battersea." "How did you obtain it?" "Knowing that I collected curiosities, he came to sell it to me." "A proof of his innocence," cried Jen, promptly. "If the man had been guilty, he certainly would not offer the evidence of his guilt for sale. Where did he obtain this devil-stick?" "Out of your smoking-room, I presume," said Lady Meg, "But I have not questioned him, as I thought it best that you should examine him yourself." "Certainly, when I can find him. Where is he now?" "Round at your stables with my groom. I brought him over with me." "Thank you, Lady Meg," said Jen, cordially. "I congratulate you on your presence of mind, and on your courage." "There is no necessity to congratulate me at all," replied the other, coloring. "I knew that it would not be wise to let him out of sight after I saw the devil-stick in his possession. And as to my courage," she added carelessly, "the poor old creature is so feeble that even I, a woman, could overpower him. But ring the bell, major, and have him in. I may be wrong. He may be innocent, but if you force him to confess how he obtained possession of the devil-stick you may get at the truth, and perhaps at the name of the murderer." "It won't be the name of Battersea," said Jen, touching the button of the bell. "He had no motive to steal my devil-stick or to kill Maurice, nor could he have any reason to take possession of a dead body. Besides," added Jen, returning to his seat, "if this tramp were guilty, he would scarcely put his neck in danger by offering you the devil-stick for sale."