"We have yet to be sure that you did not. At all events, you wrote letters to me and to Miss Mason, so that you might bring us to the house on that night, so as to implicate us in the matter. It was very clever, Bocaros, and, but that I overslept myself on that night, I would have been at Ajax Villa. Then, I grant you, my position would have been awkward, seeing I inherit the money. As it is I can prove that I had nothing to do with the matter. If you did not kill the woman, who did?" "Fane," said Bocaros, with dry lips. "Yes, Fane came up from Southend, and Fane struck the blow to rid himself of an encumbrance." "He says he didn't," said Tracey; "we've put him through his paces, and, although he's a mean white, I guess he's not a murderer. How did you know he came up from Southend? Did you write the letter to lure him there also?" "No; Flora wrote it herself." "Under your direction?" "I shan't say." "You'll have to say," said Arnold quickly; "we will have you arrested otherwise. What has become of the locket Mrs. Baldwin gave you?" Bocaros looked up doggedly. "She gave me no locket." "She did," insisted Calvert. "A small round locket, with her photograph inside. You wore it on your watch-chain; and when Flora was struck, she turned round and tore it off in her death-agony. It was found in her clenched hand by Fane." "I never had any locket," said Bocaros, with dry lips. "I am innocent." "You'll find that hard to prove. However, both myself and Tracey are willing to give you a hearing." "What will you do if I confess?" "I will send you out of the country." "I guess that's so. We don't want your sort dumped here," said Tracey. "Will you give me money, so that I may not starve?" said Bocaros, taking no notice of this speech, and addressing himself to Arnold. "I don't think you deserve a penny, seeing how you proposed to blackmail me. However, if you can prove your innocence, and can tell us who is the real criminal, I will help you." "I don't know who killed Flora, unless it was Fane." "Well then, Fane didn't," said Luther sharply. "Now, fire ahead and reel out your yarn. No lies, mind, or there'll be trouble." "Sir," said Bocaros, with a dignity which never deserted him throughout this very trying interview, "you forget I am a nobleman." "I know. They sell your sort at a penny a bunch abroad," retorted Tracey. "Go on. Talk away. I want to hear of this conspiracy." "There is no conspiracy," protested Bocaros. "I merely wished to get back my own." "Ah, you look upon the ten thousand a year as your own," said Arnold; "may I ask how you make that out?" "Flora left the money to me." "She did, and changed her mind. How did you induce her to make a will in your favour?" "It was her own good heart." "Rubbish!" said Arnold roughly; "if you tell lies, professor, I won't help you. Come--the truth now."