"I didn't want Miss Mallien to know anything," said Hendle, frowning. "It is absolutely necessary that she should know," said Beatson calmly; "and as she loves you, sir, and is going to marry you, she should know all. I'm always in the habit of telling Sophy my troubles, and she gives me the best of advice. Every woman is not so unreasonable as my mother, Mr. Hendle." Anxious as he was, Rupert could not help smiling. "I trust not," he said at length, and sat down quietly. "Well, Kit, you are more shrewd than I gave you credit for being. Perhaps you can help me, after all. Let us take advantage of the hour before the ladies arrive to go into the matter." "You must be quite frank with me, sir, you know." "That is only fair. Yes. I shall be quite frank. Take a cigarette, Kit, and listen carefully to what I have to say." Shortly Rupert had his pipe and Kit a cigarette. The door and windows being closed, Hendle felt quite secure, as it was unlikely that Mrs. Beatson would indulge in eavesdropping again, seeing what a severe lesson she had received. Hendle related slowly all that had happened, and supplied details missing in the story of Mrs. Beatson. He ended with a short sketch of his present position, and the difficulty he found in deciding what action to take. Kit was so interested in what was said that he allowed his cigarette to go out, and when the story was ended stared tongue-tied at the Squire. Rupert laughed at the expression on the boy's face. "You seem as perplexed as I am," he remarked with a shrug. "I don't think that I am perplexed," said Kit slowly and relighting his cigarette; "only I am astonished that you have not spotted the right man who murdered the vicar." "Things are too muddled for me to spot anyone," replied Hendle dryly. "My cousin accuses me; Mr. Carrington accuses your mother." "It is ridiculous for you or my mother to be accused," said Kit quietly. "My mother hasn't the pluck to kill a fly in spite of her tempers, and you----" Kit laughed. "What bosh! I'd as soon believe Sophy was guilty." "Well, only your mother and I and my cousin knew about the will before----" "Mr. Carrington knew." "Oh, yes. But he was in town on the night Leigh was killed, so----" "He was not in town," interrupted Kit sharply. "He was in Barship." Hendle dropped his pipe and stared. "Are you sure of what you are saying?" "You can ask Dr. Tollart if you doubt me." "Dr. Tollart!" echoed Hendle, much surprised. "What does he know?" "He came down on the evening when the vicar was murdered, and saw Mr. Carrington both on the Liverpool Street platform and on the Barship platform." "Did he speak to him?" "No. He told Sophy that Mr. Carrington had come down, but that he had traveled in another carriage. After all," went on Beatson thoughtfully, "there was no reason why the doctor should speak. He had only seen Mr. Carrington once when he called on him to get a cure for his toothache."