“Simple enough. He wanted to push his way in among the sort of people I knew. I was a sort of social sponsor for him. Damned unpleasant job, of course, but what could I do? Besides, when I took the job on I didn’t know anything about him. Thought he was just a new-rich merchant and I was his only victim in the threatening line. Soon found out, of course; but too late to back out then. That’s all. Satisfied?” “Perfectly. Sorry I had to ask you, but you see how it is. Well, I’m dashed if I can blame you. I’d have done the same thing myself. But I’d like to have the story of it from your own lips.” “Just told you the story.” “No, the other one, I mean.” “What other one?” “Oh, don’t beat about the bush like this. You know perfectly well what I’m driving at. I’ll put it in the original form, if you like. Where were you during the night that Stanworth died?” Jefferson’s angry flush returned. “Now look here, Sheringham, that’s too much. I’ve told you things I never dreamed I’d have to tell anyone, and I’m not going to have you probing any farther into my business. That’s final.” Roger rose to his feet. “I’m sorry you take it like that, Jefferson,” he said quietly. “You leave me no alternative.” “What are you going to do then?” “Tell the police the whole story.” “Are you mad, Sheringham?” Jefferson burst out angrily. “No, but I think you are, not to trust me,” Roger retorted, hardly less so. “You don’t think I want to tell them, do you? It’s you who are forcing me to do so.” “What, through not telling you what—what I was doing that night?” “Of course.” There was a short pause, while the two glared at each other. “Come back in a quarter of an hour,” Jefferson said abruptly. “I’ll think it over. Have to consult her, of course, first.” Roger nodded acquiescence to this proposal and hurried out of the room. Exultantly he sought Alec. “I told you so, Alexander,” he cried triumphantly, as soon as he was fairly inside the room. “Jefferson’s on the point of confession!” “He’s not!” Alec exclaimed incredulously. “He is indeed. And there’s a lot more to it than that. I’ve bluffed him into believing that I know a lot more than I do really, and he’s going to tell me all sorts of other things as well. He’s let one cat out of the bag already. I can tell you. Mrs. Plant is in it, after all!” “Oh, rot!” Alec replied with decision. “That’s out of the question. I know she isn’t.” “Don’t be so absurd, Alexander,” Roger retorted somewhat nettled. “How can you possibly know?” “Well, anyhow, I’m sure she isn’t,” Alec replied obstinately. “But my dear chap, friend Jefferson has just gone off to consult her as to whether he shall tell me the whole story or not. I threatened him with the police, you see, if he didn’t.” “I suppose you taxed him outright with the murder, did you?”