Virginia picked it up from the table and gave it to him. She saw his face grow grave as he looked at it. “What’s the matter?” He held it out, pointing silently to the place of origin. “Barnes,” he said. “And you were at Ranelagh this afternoon. What’s to prevent you having sent it off yourself?” Virginia felt fascinated by his words. It was as though a net was closing tighter and tighter round her. He was forcing her to see all the things which she had felt dimly at the back of her mind. Anthony took out his handkerchief and wound it round his hand, then he picked up the pistol. “We criminals have to be so careful,” he said apologetically. “Fingerprints, you know.” Suddenly she saw his whole figure stiffen. His voice, when he spoke, had altered. It was terse and curt. “Mrs. Revel,” he said, “have you ever seen this pistol before?” “No,” said Virginia wonderingly. “Are you sure of that?” “Quite sure.” “Have you a pistol of your own?” “No.” “Have you ever had one?” “No, never.” “You are sure of that?” “Quite sure.” He stared at her steadily for a minute, and Virginia stared back in complete surprise at his tone. Then, with a sigh, he relaxed. “That’s odd,” he said. “How do you account for this?” He held out the pistol. It was a small, dainty article, almost a toy—though capable of doing deadly work. Engraved on it was the name Virginia. “Oh, it’s impossible!” cried Virginia. Her astonishment was so genuine that Anthony could but believe in it. “Sit down,” he said quietly. “There’s more in this than there seemed to be first go off. To begin with, what’s our hypothesis? There are only two possible ones. There is, of course, the real Virginia of the letters. She may have somehow or other tracked him down, shot him, dropped the pistol, stolen the letters, and taken herself off. That’s quite possible, isn’t it?” “I suppose so,” said Virginia unwillingly. “The other hypothesis is a good deal more interesting. Whoever wished to kill Giuseppe, wished also to incriminate you—in fact that may have been their main object. They could get _him_ easily enough anywhere, but they took extraordinary pains and trouble to get him _here_, and whoever they were they knew all about you, your cottage at Datchet, your usual household arrangements, and the fact that you were at Ranelagh this afternoon. It seems an absurd question, but have you any enemies, Mrs. Revel?” “Of course I haven’t—not that kind, anyway.”