"'Since arriving in England and making inquiries in London and about Marketstoke and Ellingham as to the character and abilities of the young man who is the present holder of the title and estates which are by right my ward's I have had considerable doubt as to whether or not I should exercise the discretion extended to me by her father. Having nobody of my own, I have left her all my fortune, which is a handsome one, and she will be a rich woman. The young man seems to be an estimable and promising young fellow, and I am much exercised in mind as to whether it might not be best if Cortelyon and I kept the secret to ourselves until our deaths.'" Mr. Carless read this passage aloud, and then smote the desk heavily with his hand. "There's the secret of the murder!" he exclaimed. "You see, gentlemen, Ashton, one holder of the secret, was honest; the other, Cortelyon, was a rogue. Ashton wanted nothing for himself; Cortelyon wanted to profit. Cortelyon saw that by killing Ashton he alone would have the secret; he evidently got two accomplices who were necessary to him, and he meant, by suppressing certain facts and enlarging on others, to palm off an impostor who--mark this!--could be squared by one hundred thousand pounds! Oh, a bad fellow! Keep him tight, Mr. Inspector, keep him tight!" "You needn't bother yourself, Mr. Carless," answered Drillford laconically. "We'll see to that!" Mr. Carless again cast an eye on the passage he had just read, and then, touching Lord Ellingham's arm, drew his attention to it again, whispering something in his ear at which the young man's cheek reddened. Then he gathered up the papers, carefully replaced them in their linen-lined envelope, and handed them to Drillford. "Much obliged to you," he said. "Now, at what time are these miscreants to be put in the dock tomorrow? Ten sharp? Then," he declared, with a shrewd glance, "I shall be there--and in all my experience I shall never have set eyes on a worse scoundrel than the chief one of 'em! Now, gentlemen, shall we go?" Outside, Mr. Carless took Lord Ellingham's arm. "You know what this really means--to you?" he said. Lord Ellingham laughed. "Of course!" he answered. "Remember," continued Mr. Carless, with a knowing glance at Mr. Pawle, "you needn't give in without a struggle! You can make a big fight. You're in possession; it would take a long time to turn you out. You can have litigation--as much as ever you wish. But--I don't think there's the least doubt that the young woman we're going back to is your cousin, and therefore Countess of Ellingham." "Neither do I!" said his client with a smile. "Nor, I think, does Mr. Pawle?" "Not a doubt of it!" affirmed Mr. Pawle. "Very well," said Mr. Carless, and pulled his companions to a halt. "Then--the question now is--who is to tell her?" The two lawyers and Viner looked from one another to Lord Ellingham--but Lord Ellingham was already eager and responsive.