However, Rupert, having impressed upon Ark that he was to be at The Big House at twelve o'clock next day did not trouble himself with the ancient's fancies. So long as Ark could swear--as he evidently could--that Carrington had been haunting the Vicarage on the night of the murder, what he believed about the vicar not being dead mattered little. The man was senile and was crazy on the one point, although he appeared to be clear enough on that other concerned with Carrington's presence at the Vicarage. Rupert did not trouble his head further about the matter, but returned home satisfied that the two witnesses would confound Carrington in the moment of his fancied triumph. Nothing of any moment happened during the rest of the day, or next morning, when the meeting was to take place. Kit appeared with a spick and span machine before midday, and was sent over by Hendle to Tarhaven to bring back the Inspector by one o'clock. And Rupert informed the boy that while on the way back he could tell Lawson all that had been discovered so as to obviate the necessity of explanations. In fact, as Hendle said, it would be best for Kit to relate everything immediately he arrived at the police-office in Tarhaven, so that the Inspector could get a warrant for the barrister's arrest. So Kit went off in high glee delighted at being able to do something for his hero and Rupert returned thoughtfully to his library where Mallien was already waiting. "Suppose Carrington doesn't come?" suggested the Squire, who was very nervous. "Oh, he'll come right enough," explained Mallien grimly. "I said in my letter that to-day you intended to arrange here about the transfer of the property to me under John Hendle's will, and that we both wanted him to be present." "You don't suppose that he has any suspicions of the truth?" "To be sure he hasn't. After all but for Tollart's evidence and that of old Ark, we should never have been able to nail him. I tell you, Rupert, that Carrington has not the least idea of what is about to happen." "Poor devil! And yet he deserves his fate. The murder of Leigh was cowardly in the extreme." "It was," assented the other. "Don't be a tender-hearted fool, man." "I would rather be a fool according to my light than a wise man according to yours, Mallien." "And I am quite content," chuckled the little man, "for no one but a fool would give up the property as you are doing." "I haven't given it up yet," said Rupert, disgusted with this brutal speech, "and I may not be the fool you take me to be."