"Well," said Gebb, getting on his legs, "I had an idea myself that there might be a confession concealed in Kirkstone Hall. Now, on the evidence of this note, I am sure of it. I'll go down and search. But tell me frankly, Mr. Basson, do you know where Dean is to be found?" "No," said Basson, solemnly, "I swear I don't." "I must rely on myself, then," said Gebb, with a sigh. "I'll see you again, Mr. Basson." "I shall be glad to help you, sir," replied the barrister, and bowed the detective out of his dingy room. Gebb retired in an exultant frame of mind, as he had discovered beyond all doubt that a confession by Miss Gilmar was in existence which would probably exonerate Dean from all complicity in Kirkstone's murder. The question was, where to search for it. On his way back to the office Gebb tried vainly to find an answer to this query, but it was banished from his mind when he discovered that no less a person than Miss Wedderburn was waiting to see him. She approached him at once when he entered, and there was a sparkle of rage in her eyes, which intimated that the object of her visit was not a peaceful one. "Here you are at last, Mr. Gebb!" she said, in a wrathful voice. "And pray, sir, what do you mean by arresting Mr. Ferris?" "Oh, that's your trouble, is it, miss?" answered Gebb, coolly. "Well, my dear young lady, I arrested Mr. Ferris because he pawned a diamond necklace!" "And what had that to do with you, may I ask?" "This much, miss. The necklace was the property of Miss Gilmar, and was removed from her dead body." "Nothing of the sort!" cried Edith, vehemently. "Ellen was alive when she gave away that necklace." "Gave away that necklace!" repeated Gebb, starting up. "What do you mean?" "What I say!" rejoined Miss Wedderburn, tartly, "I gave the necklace to Arthur, and it was Miss Gilmar who presented it to me in Paradise Row, on the night she was murdered." CHAPTER XVII AN EXPLANATION It took Gebb some time to grasp the meaning of Miss Wedderburn's remarks, for the information it conveyed seemed impossible of belief. He looked so doubtful, that she repeated her speech with some impatience. "I tell you Miss Gilmar gave me that necklace on the night she was murdered." "At what hour?" gasped Gebb, not quite master of himself. "Shortly after nine o'clock." "Did you see her on that night?" "Of course I did!" said Edith, sharply. "How else could I have got the necklace?" "But you told me at Kirkstone Hall that you did not know Miss Gilmar was in Grangebury." "That is perfectly true," rejoined Edith, colouring; "but I told you many things that were false. I was forced to do so, to protect Arthur and myself." "So you knew of the murder when I paid my first visit?" "Yes; and when you inquired after Arthur, I fancied you had discovered his pawning of the necklace, and that you intended to accuse him of the crime. Naturally, I was anxious to save him." "That was why you fainted," said Gebb, suddenly enlightened.