"Yes. I was fearful lest the police should suspect me of having a hand in poor Flora's death. Now that she has left me nothing, they can never think I had any motive to kill her." "That's true enough," said Merry, puzzled; "but in any case I don't see how the police can suspect you. It is true that you live near the house where Mrs. Brand was murdered. But you no doubt can account for your actions on that night." "No," said Bocaros unhesitatingly; "that's just where the difficulty comes in. I live alone, and from five o'clock on that day I saw no one. So far as the police are concerned, it would have been perfectly easy for me to have killed Mrs. Brand, and have returned to my lonely house without raising suspicion." "There's no need to incriminate yourself," said the lawyer, thinking Bocaros was slightly touched. "I am quite sure that the police will think as I do." "What is that?" "That if you were guilty, you would not be in such a hurry to put yourself in the wrong." "I am not in the wrong; I am innocent." "Quite so. Well, there is no good discussing the matter. I suppose you can throw no light on this strange death?" "None. I have told you all I know. But I trust that Mr. Calvert, seeing he has inherited the money, will take up the matter, and hunt down the assassin. Thinking I would inherit, I decided to do so myself." "What do you mean?" asked the lawyer coldly, and jealous that the man should trench upon his province. Bocaros looked surprised. "Can't you understand?" he said. "It is my desire that the assassin of my poor cousin should be caught. I saw the advertisement of a private inquiry office in the paper, and I went there before coming to you." "Oh indeed," said Merry ironically. "And what did you say?" "I told the man I saw--his name is Jasher--of my cousin's death, and of all the circumstances connected with it. I arranged with him that he should take up the case. I asked him to see you." Merry shook his head. "That might do very well if you were the heir, professor. But as matters stand, I do not see how you can pay." "No," said Bocaros dolefully; "yet I think Calvert should employ this man, and see what can be done." "We will select the man who is to be employed," said Merry sharply. "In that case I'll hunt out the matter myself," declared the Greek, taking up his hat. "I am determined to solve this mystery. Calvert----" "You may be sure that we will advise Mr. Calvert to do the right thing," said Merry, rising in his turn. "He inherits ten thousand a year, and I expect he will see that the assassin is brought to justice, if such a thing is possible." "It is possible," said Bocaros determinedly. "My poor cousin must have had some reason to go to that house. I don't know Fane, and I don't know Brand. But one of these two men killed her." "What makes you say that?" asked Merry quickly. "It is Jasher's opinion on hearing the case."