She continued: "Wilfred heard that Van Zwieten was at the cottage, and
kept a sharp eye on Malet. He found out that he was to meet Van
Zwieten on that night and give him some documents. He then made up his
mind to kill him, to save--as I have said--the honor of the family, as
well as to punish him for his wickedness in betraying his own country.
"Shortly before nine o'clock, Van Zwieten came to the Manor and
entered the library by one of the French windows. It was his voice
that Lady Jenny heard when she went to see if her husband was back
from his walk. Indeed, it was Malet who brought Van Zwieten to the
library to give him the papers. When Lady Jenny was on her way to the
Rectory to see you, Harold, Wilfred escorted her. She mentioned that
she had heard voices in the library, and wondered with whom her
husband had been speaking. Wilfred guessed at once that the man was at
his scoundrelly work, and was more than ever determined to put a stop
to it. To get away from Lady Jenny without exciting her suspicion, and
also to prove an _alibi_ in case he shot the man, he pretended to
sprain his ankle. Lady Jenny was quite unsuspicious, and went on to
the Rectory alone. As you know, she never reached it, having been
stopped by the storm. As soon as she was out of sight, Wilfred
hastened back to the house with the intention of confronting both men,
and killing Malet if he did not take the papers back from Van Zwieten.
He also entered the library by the French window, so the servants
never saw him come in. He found the room empty, as Van Zwieten had
gone away, and Malet with him--I suppose it was to receive further
instructions. Wilfred saw the revolvers belonging to Harold on a
side-table, for Mr. Malet had been using them that afternoon. He took
one, found that it was loaded, and hastened after the pair. Knowing
that Van Zwieten was at our cottage, he went first in that direction;
but for a long time he could see neither of them. At last he caught
sight of Malet in the orchards, just before the storm. He was talking
with a man whom Wilfred took to be you, father."
"My brother, I suppose?"
"Yes," replied Brenda. "It was Uncle Robert. He heard high words
between the two and saw the struggle."
"That was when the crape scarf was torn?"