"He is no murderer," said the young girl quickly. "Appearances are against him, but he is innocent." "I believe you love the fellow still," said Balscombe, contemptuously. "So much that I'm going to marry him," she replied. "You may do so, if he escapes the gallows, which I doubt," retorted the baronet. "I do not doubt," interposed Norwood quietly; "I am certain Mr. Desmond is innocent and could clear himself but for some absurd idea of honour." "And what's all this got to do with me?" asked Balscombe haughtily. "Simply this, that I have reason to believe Lady Balscombe had something to do with the case." "Lady Balscombe!" echoed Sir Rupert, turning pale with fury. "Take care, sir, take care. My affairs have nothing to do with you, and Lady Balscombe's folly is quite apart from this--this murder." "I think not," answered Norwood quietly, "for in my opinion Lady Balscombe left this house and went to Lord Calliston's chambers on the night of the murder and saw Mr. Desmond." "Did Mr. Desmond tell you this?" said Balscombe in a nervous voice. "No, Mr. Desmond refuses to tell anything," rejoined Norwood, "but I am certain it was Lady Balscombe, and as you came up from Berkshire on that night I thought you might tell me at what hour Lady Balscombe went out?" "I am no spy on my wife's movements," retorted the baronet haughtily. "I came up from Berkshire, it is true, and understood from my servants that my wife was in her room. As we were not on good terms I did not see her, but went straight to my club. From there I did not return till about three in the morning. I then went to bed and did not know of Lady Balscombe's flight till next morning when it was too late to stop her. So, you see, I can tell you nothing." Norwood was about to reply when a knock came to the door and the servant, entering, gave a card to Sir Rupert, which he glanced at and then handed to Norwood. "Here is the detective who has the case in hand," he said quietly. "Perhaps, if you question him you may find out what you want to know. Show the gentleman in." "Dowker's a clever man," said Norwood, when the servant had retired; "he arrested Desmond, so I presume he has come here to get evidence against him. Now, Miss Penfold, we must put our wits against his." "Yes, and between the two stools poor Desmond will fall to the ground," replied the baronet, with a cold smile. "Here is your detective." Mr. Dowker, being announced by the servant, entered the room quietly, and bowed first to Miss Penfold and then to Sir Rupert. "How do you do Mr. Norwood?" he said calmly. "I did not think to meet you here, but I suppose we're on the same errand." "Not quite," replied Norwood. "You want to destroy Myles Desmond. I wish to save him." "There you are wrong," said Dowker, placing his hat beside a chair and taking his seat. "I want to save him also." "Save him?" cried May, starting up. "Yes; because I believe him to be innocent." "Then why arrest him?" asked Norwood.