1. Austin never got on with Sir William. 2. Though Sir William allowed him £1000 a year, this was a small sum compared to what he might equally easily have paid. 3. Austin could not be making more than two or three hundred a year, so his total income could not much exceed £1200. 4. He was living up to, or almost up to, this figure. 5. Austin had become engaged to a girl to whom, as a daughter-in-law, there was every reason to believe Sir William objected. This girl had no dot. 6. Unless he got an increased allowance Austin would find himself very pinched after marriage. 7. Sir William had threatened that if the marriage came off, he would not only not increase the allowance, but might alter his will adversely to Austin. 8. Austin would therefore be faced with the alternative of having his prospects ruined if his father lived, or, if he died, of receiving £150,000. Thus not only his own position and comfort were at stake, but that also of the girl he loved—a terrible temptation. 9. Austin had an interview with Sir William on the Sunday night previous to the murder, at which the two quarrelled about a lady—presumably Miss Drew. 10. Austin had the requisite knowledge of Luce Manor and Sir William’s ways to have accomplished the deed. 11. Austin had on that Wednesday night rowed down the river and met Sir William at the Luce Manor boathouse. 12. Austin had denied having been in the neighbourhood at the time. 13. Austin had invented and carried out an elaborate plant with the object of proving an alibi. This alibi was a deliberate falsehood from beginning to end, and was prearranged. As Tanner read over his document he felt that seldom had he investigated a clearer case, or got together more utterly damning evidence. ‘The man’s as good as hanged,’ he said grimly to himself. Next morning he laid his conclusions before his chief, with the result that an hour later he was again on his way to Halford, armed with a warrant for Austin Ponson’s arrest. He took the sergeant and a constable with him to the house, but left them waiting in the hall while he was shown into Austin’s study. The latter was writing at his table. ‘Hallo! Inspector,’ he cried cheerily. ‘And how are you getting on?’ Tanner ignored his outstretched hand, and as the other saw his visitor’s face, his expression changed. ‘Mr Austin Ponson, I am sorry to inform you I hold a warrant for your arrest on a charge of murdering your father, Sir William Ponson. I must also warn you that anything you may say may be used against you.’ Austin shrank back and collapsed into his chair as if he had been struck. His face grew ghastly, and little drops of moisture formed on his forehead. For some moments he sat motionless, then slowly he seemed somewhat to recover himself. ‘All I can say, Inspector,’ he answered earnestly, ‘is that, before God, I am innocent. I am ready to go with you.’