"There was certainly enough evidence to hang you," said Calvert. "I also was afraid when I found the body; I fled also. We all seemed to have lost our heads." "I don't think you did, Calvert," said Tracey, "considering the slim way you lured that policeman away. Well, professor, did you see any one in the house?" "Not a soul. I was there only for a quarter of an hour or so." Luther nodded. "Yes; Fane said he heard you go out. But Fane fancied there were two men." "I was alone," said the professor positively, and the others believed him. He had no reason to tell lies, seeing the position in which he was placed. His only chance of safety lay in telling the truth--the exact truth, and he appeared to be doing so. "Now then," said Calvert, when he and Tracey had digested this information, "what about the forged letters?" "I did not write them. Why should I?" "Well, you might have made up your mind to kill Flora, and then have arranged for me to be lured there, so that I might be accused." "But I did not kill her; and had I written the letter to lure you, I should not have sent one to Miss Mason also. I could not accuse her." "That's true enough," said Arnold perplexed; "so the key was lost in this room. Have you many visitors, professor?" "Very few," said Bocaros, glancing at Tracey. "You often come," this was to the American. "I do," assented that gentleman; "are you going to accuse me of taking the key?" "The key has gone." "That is as much as to say I took it, and killed Mrs. Brand," said the other, with a shrug; "but who else comes? That maid?" "She only paid me a visit after the murder." "Well, she can't be guilty. Who else?" Bocaros reluctantly admitted that Mrs. Baldwin sometimes came. On hearing this, Tracey looked disturbed. "Can she have taken the key?" "Nonsense!" said Arnold decisively--"a fat, lazy woman like that? Besides, the person who had the key would write the letters, seeing that the key came in one. Why should Mrs. Baldwin desire to get me and Laura into trouble?" "I don't know," murmured Tracey anxiously, and recalling Mrs. Baldwin's behaviour at the Hampstead cottage. "She's a queer fish. Then that locket with her picture----" "I have seen Mrs. Baldwin with such a locket," said Bocaros. "Oh, you have." Tracey, much alarmed, looked at Calvert. "I say, you don't think she killed Mrs. Brand?" Grave as the situation was, Calvert smiled at the idea of Mrs. Baldwin in the character of Lady Macbeth. "I would as soon think of my having done it myself," he declared. "There is some mystery about all this. Can you solve it, professor?" "No," said Bocaros. "I have told you all. What will you do?" "Interview Mrs. Baldwin, and ask her about the locket," said Arnold, rising. "By the way, I must see Jasher. He may have made some discovery." "He will be here this evening," said Bocaros. "I have written to him."