"Ah, where the carcass is, there the vultures gather. I would say to him what I say to you with the utmost confidence, Miss Tedder. I wish to be your friend, and as I am not a marrying man, you can see that I have no eye to your money. But you are a young girl and have no one to counsel you but Mrs. Mountford, who does not always give good advice. You should believe in the innocence of your cousin against all evidence, and clear his character, and----" "And marry him," finished Miss Tedder, tapping her small foot. "No, I certainly will not. Anything I can do to save him from the consequence of his wickedness----" "He is not wicked. He is innocent." "Then let him prove his innocence," she rose with a dignified air as if to intimate that the interview was terminated. "But I must do what Inspector Trent says. Even though Angus is my cousin, my papa is,--rather was,--my papa, and I must offer a reward for the apprehension of the murderer." "Who is Herries?" "Inspector Trent says so." "And you believe it. Well," Browne shrugged his shoulders, "if this is woman's love, give me man's hate. Did you know that your father had an appointment with anyone two nights ago?" "No. Papa never said anything about it. He went away in the afternoon, and said he would return next day. I knew nothing of his whereabouts until Inspector Trent came and told me that Angus had killed papa." Browne shrugged his shoulders again. It seemed impossible to impress this butterfly with the fact Herries was innocent. She seemed a heartless sort of creature. He took no further trouble to contradict her, but went on with his questions. "Do you know why your father took so large a sum of money with him?" "No. I did not know that he had taken any money. How much was it?" "I can't say; but the landlady's son at the 'Marsh Inn' saw a considerable sum in gold and notes on the table. That has disappeared." "Along with Angus," sneered Maud. "I think not. You make out your cousin to be a thief as well as a murderer. He is neither. So you know nothing of the reason of your father's visit to the 'Marsh Inn?'" "I didn't even know that he was going there." "Good-day, then," and Browne turned on his heel. "Stop, doctor," Maud ran after him and laid a detaining hand on his arm. "I don't want you to think badly of me. I do hope that Angus is not guilty, indeed I do. If you know where he is----" "How should I know?" asked Browne warily. "Well, I thought you might, as you were at the inn." "I went there in response to a telegram calling me. I arrived to find that Herries had escaped. But presuming that he did communicate with me," Browne put it this way to see what she would say, and at the same time, to guard Herries, "what do you wish me to tell him?" "That I will give him a sum of money to leave England." "And so confess that he is guilty. Thank you for nothing." Maud clenched her hands and bit her lip.