"Because--because--hang it all, man! you know Luke de Mountford. Do you believe for a moment that he would commit such a dastardly crime? Why, the boy wouldn't know how to plan such villainy, let alone carry it through." "My dear Will," rejoined the other quietly, "the many years which I have spent at this desk have taught me many things. Among others I have learned that every man is more or less capable of crime: it only depends what the incentive--the temptation if you like to call it so--or the provocation happens to be." "But here there was no provocation, no temptation, no----" Colonel Harris paused abruptly. He felt rather than saw his brother-in-law's eyes in their framework of wrinkles resting with obvious sense of amusement upon his wrathful face. No temptation? And what of a peerage and a fortune lost, that could only be regained by the death of the intruder? No provocation? And what of the brother and sister turned out of the old home? The good, simple-minded man had sense enough to see that here, if he wished to speak up for Luke, he was on the wrong track. "What questions," he said abruptly, "does Luke not answer satisfactorily?" "How he spent certain hours of yesterday evening." "He was dancing attendance on Louisa and me." "Oh, was he? Well that's satisfactory enough. At what time did you part from him?" "Well! he escorted us to the Danish Legation where we were dining." "At what time was that?" "Eight o'clock dinner." "But he was not dining at the Danish Legation?" "No. He came and fetched us again soon after eleven." "That's right, but between whiles?" "Between whiles?" "Yes. Between eight and soon after eleven?" "Well--I suppose--I don't know--yes, of course, I do! What a stupid ass I am. Luke told me himself that he was going to see his uncle at the Something Club in Shaftesbury Avenue." "The Veterans'?" "Yes, that's it--the Veterans'. Luke wanted to persuade old Radclyffe to go abroad for the benefit of his health--Algeciras--that was it." "Quite so," rejoined Sir Thomas dryly, "and Luke de Mountford went to the Veterans' Club in Shaftesbury Avenue, and he asked to see Lord Radclyffe, who was a more or less regular habitué at that hour. On being told that Lord Radclyffe was not there that evening, but that Mr. de Mountford was in the smoking room, Luke elected to go in and presumably to have a talk with his cousin." "I didn't know that," said Colonel Harris.