"Now, look you here," cried Sergeant Delves, falling back on a favourite phrase of his. "Mr. Glenn is correct enough as to the time of the occurrence: I have had some experience in death myself, and I'm sure he is not far out. But let that pass. Here are witnesses who saw him alive at half-past eleven o'clock, and you come home at two and find him dead. Now, let your son Herbert thus state where he was from half-past eleven till two. He says he was out: not near home at all. Very good. Only let him mention the place, so that we can verify it, and find, beyond dispute, that he _was_ out, and the suspicion against him will be at an end. But he won't do this." "Not do it?" echoed Mr. Dare. "He tells me point-blank that he can't and he won't. I asked him." Mr. Dare turned impetuously to the room where he had left his second son--his eldest son now. "Here, Herbert"--he was beginning. But the officer cut short the words by drawing him back. "Don't go and make matters worse," whispered he: "perhaps they'll be bad enough without it. Now, Lawyer Dare, you'll do well not to turn obstinate, for I am giving you a bit of friendly advice. You and I have had many a transaction together, and I don't mind going a bit out of my way for you, as I wouldn't do for other people. The worst thing your son could do, would be to say before those chattering servants that he can't or won't tell where he has been all night, or half the night. It would be self-condemnation at once. Ask him in private, if you must ask him." Mr. Dare called his son to him, and Herbert answered to it. A policeman was sauntering after him, but the sergeant gave him a nod, and the man went back. "Herbert, you say you did not come in until near two this morning." "Neither did I. It wanted about twenty minutes to it. The churches struck half-past one as I came through the town." "Where did you stay?" "Well--I can't say," replied Herbert. Mr. Dare grew agitated. "You must say, Herbert," he hoarsely whispered, "or take the consequences." "I can't help the consequences," was Herbert's answer. "Where I was last night is no matter to any one, and I shall not say." "Your not saying--if you can say--is just folly," interposed the sergeant. "It's the first question the magistrates will ask when you are placed before them." Herbert looked up angrily. "Place me before the magistrates!" he echoed. "What do you mean? You will not dare to take me into custody!" "You have been in custody this half-hour," coolly returned the sergeant. Herbert looked terribly fierce. "I will not submit to this indignity," he exclaimed. "_I will not._ Sergeant Delves, you are overstepping----" "Look here," interrupted the sergeant, drawing something from some unseen receptacle; and Mr. Herbert, to his dismay, caught sight of a pair of handcuffs. "Don't you force me to use them," said the officer. "You are in custody, and must go before the magistrates; but now, you be a gentleman, and I'll use you as one."