Mrs. Belswin said nothing. Her eyes were cast down, and she was tapping the ground nervously with her foot. The fact is she was in a state of considerable trepidation, as she fancied she knew the motive Belk had in killing Sir Rupert--a motive of which all but herself were ignorant. Belk loved her. He was in intelligence little raised above the brute of the fields; so if he had overheard the interview between herself and Sir Rupert, and seen how ignominiously she was treated, he might have--but no, it was too horrible; and with a cry she covered her face with her hands. "What is the matter, Mrs. Belswin?" asked Maxwell, looking at her quickly. Mrs. Belswin at once told a lie. "It's so horrible to think of a mother being the means of her son's death." "We don't know if he is guilty yet." "Then how can he explain his presence on the terrace on that night?" "His presence there does not mean that he committed the crime. He may be able to explain as well as Signor Ferrari." "You doubt me, signor," cried Ferrari, wrathfully, starting to his feet. "I have not said so." "But you think. Dio, I am not blind. Well, if you doubt, bring me to this man, signor. I will make him tell all to you before me." "Will you, then, come down to Deswarth with me on Sunday?" "That is to-morrow! eh! yes, signor, I will come." "And I too, Mr. Maxwell." "You, Mrs. Belswin?" "Yes; I cannot believe this horrible thing of that poor young man," said Mrs. Belswin, hurriedly. "I will also come. Do you intend to have Belk arrested on Sunday?" "No!" cried Maxwell, vehemently. "I want to hear what he has to say first." "I'm afraid your nature is too soft for a detective, Mr. Maxwell," said Mrs. Belswin cruelly. "Do you think so," he answered angrily. "No! But look, Mrs. Belswin, at the horrible position of the case. A mother betrays unconsciously to death the son whom she adores. Oh! it's terrible." "He may be innocent." "Per Bacco, I hope so," cried Ferrari, anxiously. "I myself think it is too much a tragedy." "I will not speak to the police," said Maxwell, taking up his hat. "We three will go to Deswarth together and confront this man. If he is innocent so much the better. If he is guilty----" "Well?" asked Mrs. Belswin, seeing him pause. "I will do nothing!" "Nothing?" "No. If I took advantage of what Mrs. Belk told me to hang her son, I should never have a moment's peace for the rest of my life!" "But Kaituna?" "She will think the same as I do," said Maxwell, quickly. "And you, Mrs. Belswin--surely you would not counsel otherwise?" Mrs. Belswin looked heavenward with a look of almost sublime pity on her strongly marked face. "No; I am a mother, and I know how a mother feels for her only child." CHAPTER XXXI. A TRAGIC SITUATION.