Marie sprang to her feet and the color flew to her wan cheeks. “I don’t believe it; I don’t, I don’t, I don’t,” she said almost fiercely. “Uncle Ran has his faults, and never did care much for me, besides using my income and being nasty to Alan because he loved me. But he would never kill anyone, I am sure, Mr. Latimer. What Miss Grison says in that paper is a lie.” “Oh,” cried Fuller quickly, “you saw that paper?” “Yes; _The Latest News!_ That boy brought it to Uncle Ran, for I saw him give it through the window of the library while I was walking on the terrace. Uncle Ran left it behind in his hurry, and——” “He left in a hurry?” asked Dick suddenly. “Yes. He told me that he had received bad news and would be away for a time and that I was to use the money—the twenty pounds I mean—to keep things going.” “Did he say anything about returning?” “No. He was in such a hurry that he had no time to say much. And then very late at night there was a ring at the door, and Henny went down to find a man with another man who said they had come to arrest Uncle Ran for murder. I had to get up and answer questions, and then one man went away while the other stayed. He’s at The Monastery now,” cried Marie with a fresh burst of tears, “and I haven’t been in bed all night. Henny made me lie down for a time this morning, and then I came up by the midday train to see you, Alan. Oh, what does it all mean?” Alan glanced at his friend, for the situation was very painful. He opened his mouth to speak, but could not, while Marie looked at him so appealingly. Dick, more hardened to the world, and not being in love, solved the question, as to frank speech or silence. “Miss Inderwick,” he said bluntly, “believe me I am very sorry for you in every way, but it is just as well that you should know the truth. What Miss Grison says in that interview is true. The holder of the peacock is the person who murdered Grison for its possession.” “But not Uncle Ran, not Uncle Ran!” she pleaded anxiously. “I fear so,” said Latimer turning away his head; “he has the peacock.” “It’s not true, it’s not true, Alan——” “I fear it is, Marie,” said the young man sadly. “I saw the peacock myself in your uncle’s hands when I was down at Belstone for Christmas.” “Oh! and you never told me.” “I did not wish you to learn the truth, and tried to keep it from you. But since the matter has been made public, you have become acquainted with what has happened, and the flight of Mr. Sorley seems to suggest a guilty conscience. I hope he is innocent, but——” “He _is_ innocent,” interrupted Marie with the tears streaming down her face; “nothing will ever make me believe that Uncle Ran murdered anyone. How did he account for possession of the peacock?” “He declared that Miss Grison must have left it in the cupboard where it had been stored twenty years ago.” “On that occasion when she came and walked all over the house; when we found her sitting in the library?” “Yes.”