"I lighted matches, as I was afraid to relight the candle. Well then, I also found a small pocket diary written up to the time Sir Simon went to bed. It mentioned that Angus Herries was in the house, and sleeping there----" "How did my uncle know that?" asked Herries much amazed. "He overheard your voice raised when talking to Gowrie, and peered out of the parlour to see who it was. He recognised you----" "Nae, nae," said Gowrie waving the smoke away from his eyes, "he cudnae hae recognised the laddie sae changed wi' weary travels. But Angus here talked tae me, his auld tutor, and I spoke his name at times. Aye, and I mind me noo, the door of the parlour opened and shut, while we hed oor crack." "I don't remember that," said Angus thoughtfully. "Aye, but I do, ma laddie. Ye were sae taken up wi' yer tale of woe,--and verra sad it wis,--that ye didna hear nor see. But I keeked oot o' the tail o' ma ee, and saw,--though tae be sure I didna weel ken at the time it wis yer lawfu' uncle. Hed I kenned I micht hae touched him for a shullin' or two." "You evidently robbed Herries instead," said Kyles contemptuously. "Eh, but that's actionable. I'll hale ye afore the magistrate for yon speech. Hoo d'y' ken I wis in Herries' room." "I heard you muttering to yourself. Your accent betrayed you." "Well, and wherefore no. I joost looked in tae see that my puir laddie wis asleep." "And you took his money. Pope Narby found that out." Gowrie turned wrathfully on the culprit. "D'y' ken yon's a base lee?" "Here," interrupted Herries, growing weary of all this talk, "get on with what you have to say, Captain Kyles. We can settle these minor details later. What did you do when Narby did not return?" "I waited until the morning, then assumed Sir Simon's coat and boldly walked out of the inn." "Why did you wait until the morning?" "For two reasons. First, I wanted to get the money which Pope had taken away, and thought up to the last moment that he would return. And second, when I did have a half idea of escaping by the window, Armour came and sat down beneath it And there was a third reason," added Kyles, with his eyes on Maud Tedder. "One moment before you proceed further," said Ritson quickly. "How can we believe all this about Pope Narby?" "There's his confession," said Kyles, taking a packet from his breast pocket and throwing it across the table. "I saw him later; he refused to give up the money, but I made him sign that confession by threatening to arrest him, and----" "Pope," yelled Mrs. Narby, "oh, you fool, did you sign----?" "I had to, mother," moaned her son, "and Captain Kyles said he would save me by taking me away to America."