While this was taking place, Leo was talking in the chapel with Hale. Haverleigh had gone up to see if Sybil was about, as he wished to tell her of this new development of the conspiracy against him. Leo felt sure by this time that there was a conspiracy, and that Hale was concerned in it. He was therefore rather pleased when he saw the cripple walking up the hill before him. Leo made up his mind to force the truth out of him, and hurried on so as to catch him. Hale heard his steps, and turned with a queer smile on his face. He was not at all abashed by the presence of the man to whom he had told a lie, but, on the contrary, welcomed him in the most friendly manner. Haverleigh was irritated by this false behaviour. "Either you think me innocent, and wish to be my friend," he said, "or you believe that I am guilty and have some reason to be feigning good fellowship. I must have some understanding with you, Hale. Come into the chapel. We will not be disturbed there as it is mid-day and everyone is at dinner," and Leo, without waiting for a reply, entered the door. The chapel was empty; even Sybil was not in sight. Hearing the halting steps of the cripple behind him, Leo led the way into the crusaders' chapel, where he sat down beside one of the tombs. Hale paused before him and looked down in a whimsical manner. "You have chosen a strange place," he said, looking round. "It is a sacred place," replied Leo, coolly; "and you may be the less inclined to tell lies. I presume you have some religion." "How dare you say I tell lies?" cried the baronet, scowling. "Because I have had some experience of your capability in that direction. And now I should like to know what you mean by denying that you lent me the three hundred pounds?" Hale shrugged his unshapely shoulders and sat down with a painful effort, placing his crutch beside him. "You were fool enough to speak to me in the presence of my sister," he said. "I could only say what I did say. Now that we are alone I am willing to answer any questions you may put to me." "You will answer truthfully, I hope?" "Assuredly. It is time we understood one another. Go on." "You lent me three hundred pounds?" said Leo, in the form of a query. "In gold," assented Sir Frank, coolly. "Why did you lend it to me in gold?" "A whim of mine." "I don't think so," said Leo, slowly. "You had some scheme in your head. I believe you wanted to deny the loan if you found it convenient." "You are very clever, Haverleigh. That is just what I did want. Had I given you a cheque you could have proved the loan. Even notes might have shown the truth. But I wanted to be free to act as I pleased, so I went to the trouble of getting gold from the bank." "Then it seems to me that you had this cup stolen by some confederate, and intended to lay the blame on me so as to get me into a trap!"