"Do you think that was right, seeing Signor Ferrari is a foreigner and ignorant of English laws?" asked Maxwell. "I don't say it was right, sir," replied Belk with a queer look; "and it was not altogether the trespass. There was something else I need not tell you of that made me take his diamond." Mrs. Belswin darted a sudden look on both men, who were eyeing her jealously, and flushed a deep red; but Maxwell was so interested in Belk's story that he did not notice her perturbation, and signed to him to continue. "Well, sir, I stuck the pin in my scarf careless like, as I was in a hurry to go up to the Hall to see Sir Rupert." "What hour was this." "About four o'clock, sir. I went up to the Hall, and Sir Rupert, sir, he was in his study; so instead of going in by the door, I went in by the window." "So you first went along the terrace?" "Yes, sir! And as the pin was stuck in careless, I suppose it fell as I went into the room by the window." "Not impossible!" said Maxwell, thoughtfully. "I saw Sir Rupert, took my orders, and then came home, sir, and didn't go out again that night." "Eh!" cried Mrs. Belk, starting up, "no more you did, lad; I can swear to that." "And so can Mr. Gelthrip, the parson, sir," said Belk, triumphantly. "He called here in the evening, and I saw him. So you see, sir, as I didn't go near the Hall until the next morning, I didn't have nought to do with the killing." "No; certainly not." Maxwell heaved a sigh of relief at the turn things had taken, for if both Mrs. Belk and the curate could prove that Samson had been at home on that fatal night, the young man certainly could not be guilty. Meanwhile, he wanted to get away and think the matter over; for what with the story of Ferrari and the story of Belk, he was quite bewildered. "So my Samson is innocent," cried Mrs. Belk, triumphantly. "Yes, and I'm glad to hear it," replied Maxwell, as he went out. "Good-bye, Mrs. Belk, I'm pleased on your account, but sorry on my own." "Ebbene! but who killed Il----I am talking of Seer Rupert," cried Ferrari, putting on his hat. Belk shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know," he replied, nonchalantly; "the master had lots of enemies, I reckon." "Belk," cried Maxwell, overhearing this, "come to The Chequers to-night, I want to speak to you." "Very well, sir." "You are not coming up to town with us then, Mr. Maxwell?" said Mrs. Belswin, who was lingering behind. "No! I wish to ask Belk some questions about Sir Rupert's enemies. From what he says, it appears he had some, and Belk knows them." Maxwell and Ferrari both went down to the gate, and Mrs. Belswin was left alone with Samson, the mother still being in the house. "Don't go," she said, in a low tone. "Oh, yes, I'll go," he replied in the same tone, "I tell nothing." "What?" she said, uneasily; "do you know anything?" Belk looked at her with his languid eyes, and stroked his golden beard slowly.