"Oh, Mr. Marsh, is that you?" she began, addressing him through the cab window. "I am very glad to see you, because you can perhaps inform me whether I am likely to find Mr. Drelincourt at Fairlawn." "I have every reason to believe you will find him there. But--pardon the question--are you bound for Fairlawn?" "That is my destination. I have just arrived from London, where I have been staying for the last few days, and wish to see Mr. Drelincourt, and with as little delay as possible, about a matter of very special importance." "I, too, am bound for Fairlawn--and in a hurry," said Roden, hiding the surprise he could not help feeling. "So, as there is not another cab left on the stand, if you will kindly allow me to share yours, you will be rendering me a great service." "Why, certainly. I shall be very glad of your company, Mr. Marsh, and we can talk as we go along." So Roden, having given his orders to the driver, got inside, and away they rattled; but all talking was out of the question till they had left the paved streets of the town behind them, and were well out on the quiet country road. Then said Mrs. Jenwyn: "My errand to Fairlawn is a very singular one, as I have no doubt you will admit, Mr. Marsh, when I have explained to you what it is." "I am all curiosity," replied Roden, which was not far from being the truth. "It is the fact, is it not, that a man named Gumley is lying under sentence of death in Sunbridge jail as being the supposed murderer of the first Mrs. Drelincourt?" "The fact is as you state it. But why do you say as being the 'supposed' murderer of Mrs. Drelincourt?" "Because I am in a position to prove that the man in question had nothing whatever to do with the crime for which he has been convicted, and it is with the view of laying my evidence to that effect before Mr. Drelincourt that I am now on my way to Fairlawn." For a little while sheer amazement held Rodd speechless. But presently came a question which, under the circumstances, was almost inevitable: "You have indeed surprised me, Mrs. Jenwyn; but if you are in a position to prove Gumley's innocence, you are, perhaps, equally in a position to bring the real criminal's guilt home to him?" "I am." Again Rodd's thoughts held him silent for a little while. Then he said tentatively: "Mr. Drelincourt----" and then he was silent. "What of him?" "You say that you are on your road to see him about this very matter of Gumley's?" "That is so." "Then you do not know, you cannot have heard, that this very afternoon, In order to save Gumley's life, Mr. Drelincourt gave himself up as the murderer of his wife!" "Mr. Drelincourt his wife's murderer? No! No!" The words were uttered almost in a shriek. "That is what he has confessed to being." "Then he has confessed to a falsehood. It is not true, I tell you. I can prove it. Mr. Drelincourt had no more hand in his wife's death than you or I had."