"In a rather peculiar way, Mr. Inspector, but what I tell you can be substantiated by my friend and legal adviser, Mr. Ian Roy Macandrew." And after thus guarding himself from the tale being received with disbelief Gerald detailed the finding of the cylinder, and his subsequent dealings with the matter. Morgan gaped and stared, not knowing what to make of so extraordinary a story. "Then this young lady was not crazy?" "No," said Gerald positively. "I am certain she was in complete possession of her senses." "Then why was she shut up?" "You had better ask Major Rebb that," said Haskins dryly, "he will be here soon. In proof of the truth of my story, you can look for the canoe, which is hidden in the undergrowth on the other side of the pool below the river wall." Morgan nodded, with his pale blue eyes fixed on the speaker. "Do you know anything of this murder?" he asked pointedly. Gerald laughed shortly. "Are you going to accuse me?" he demanded. "Certainly not, Mr. Haskins; certainly not. But, seeing that your canoe is near the house, and you confess to having paid secret visits." "I understand." Gerald cut him short. "People will talk. Let them. I can prove an alibi with the help of Mrs. Jennings and three or four of her servants. I slept last night at the Prince's Head, Silbury, and was in bed a few minutes after ten. By the way, can you tell me when this crime was committed?" "The doctor who examined the poor woman's body states that she was stabbed--so far as he can ascertain from the condition of the corpse--somewhere about twelve o'clock: say at midnight." "Where?" Morgan indicated a spot, stained with blood--it had soaked into the graveled path--some little distance away. "Yonder, Mr. Haskins. I judge from this that Miss Bellaria, as she is called hereabouts, came to open the gate to someone--the assassin, no doubt--and then she was stabbed to the heart before she could make an outcry. The doctor declares that death must have taken place almost instantaneously." "Humph," said Gerald swiftly. "I see then that you exonerate Miss Durham, seeing that you say Bellaria was summoned to the gate by the assassin." "Yes and no, Mr. Haskins," said the inspector stolidly, "according to what you say, this young lady was sane: that has yet to be proved. It is quite likely that for once she may have gone out." "No, no; she had no wish to go out." "You seem to know a great deal about the young lady's intentions," said Inspector Morgan, a trifle dryly. "Well then, she may have followed Miss Bellaria into the garden, and, after stabbing her, may have opened the gates and got away." "Miss Bellaria never came into the garden at night," said Gerald quickly; "she told me herself that she was afraid of something." "What was she afraid of?" asked Morgan sharply.