"More than you think," retorted Ellis. "Zirknitz is a scamp, but no fool, and he told me all about the questions you had asked him. He even mentioned the sums of money you have paid him for his information." "What information?" said Busham, fighting every inch. "Is it necessary for me to inform you?" questioned Ellis, with icy contempt. "What information?" repeated the lawyer. "He told you that the supposed Mrs. Moxton was really Janet Gordon. He betrayed his sisters for money like the contemptible creature he is, and in turn he has betrayed you." "I don't understand your hint of betrayal." "I think you do. But if you wish me to be more explicit, I can inform you that Zirknitz saw you following Moxton on that night." Busham sneered, and his brow cleared. "So you said when Mrs. Moxton--I beg your pardon--Miss Gordon was here. I then admitted that I was at Dukesfield on that night, and gave my reasons for being there. Also, I gave an account of my actions." "I know you did, Mr. Busham. A very pretty account which did justice to your imagination." "I told the truth," cried Busham, gnawing his lip. "No, you did not. You told what suited your purpose. You spoke to no policeman on that night, for those who were on duty then have all been closely questioned. You never followed Mrs. Moxton to Pimlico, but you called there later and bribed the servant, Sarah, to tell you the truth." "Who says I did?" "Zirknitz. I am afraid you were a trifle overconfident of his silence, Mr. Busham." "Zirknitz is a liar!" "Oh, no, only a traitor who changes sides when he sees a chance of making money." "He won't make any out of his sisters," growled Busham. "I have burnt that will, and the Moxton property will come to me." Ellis smiled when he thought on how slight a foundation this belief rested. "Well, we will say nothing about the will But even though you have destroyed it, Mrs. Moxton takes a great portion of her husband's property as his widow." "She sha'n't have one penny," snarled Busham. "A jade, an adventuress and a murderess! that's what she is. If she refuses to give me the whole of the Moxton property, I'll denounce her. He! he! then she will be hanged." "I doubt it, Busham. There is a prejudice against hanging women in this country. As to your saying that she killed Moxton, that is a lie, and you know it. The man who murdered your cousin wore a silk hat and fur coat." "Who says so?" "Mrs. Moxton herself. She saw the man strike the blow, but could not recognise him." "Oh, that is an invention to save her neck," scoffed Busham. "A man in a silk hat and a fur coat? Bosh! Who is the man!" "Well, I am not quite clear on that point," replied Ellis, speaking very slowly, "but I fancied he might be you." Busham started from his seat with a kind of screech hardly human. "I?" he gasped. "You dare to accuse me of that crime! And on what grounds?" "You wore a similar dress on the night you followed Moxton." "Who says I did?"