"Perhaps," said Mrs. Snow, looking down uneasily. Then she raised her face with a frown. "Who told you this?" "A man called Orchard. You may know of him, Mrs. Snow?" "I have no reason to deny that I know of him. He was the late Mr. Paslow's butler, and became a shepherd on the Downs, because the doctor said he would have to live in the open air." "Why?" "Did he not tell you? His nerves were so shattered by that horrid murder which took place at the Grange twenty-five years ago." "You allude to the murder of my father?" "To the murder of Colonel Hall," corrected Mrs. Snow snappishly. "My father was Colonel Hall." "So this man Orchard says?" sneered the other, her face flushing and her hands opening and shutting. "And so I believe. Come now, Mrs. Snow, you must tell me what you know of this matter?" "I know nothing." "Perhaps Miss Duncan may be able to tell me?" "Ah!"--the vicar's wife laughed carelessly--"you know my maiden name, and perhaps my occupation before I married my husband?" "I heard that you were a governess." "Who said so?" "Durban." "In that case, since he has been so frank, I wonder that he did not tell you how Mrs. Hall--your mother--killed the Colonel." Beatrice started to her feet. "You dare to say that?" "Yes, I do," cried Mrs. Snow venomously. "She killed your father to gain possession of a diamond necklace, and married Alpenny because he could have accused her of the murder." "That is not true," said Beatrice, closing her eyes with horror. "It is true. I can prove it." "Why did you not do so twenty-five years ago?" "Because your mother was my friend." "Mrs. Snow"--Beatrice opened her eyes, and leaned across the table--"you were never my mother's friend." The woman moved uneasily, and her hands were restless. "Had I not been so, your mother would have stood in the dock." "Ah! you had your own reason for keeping quiet." "Do you mean to accuse me of being her accomplice?" said Mrs. Snow, rising, and scowling. "Sit down, please." Beatrice pushed her back into the chair. "How dare you!" gasped Mrs. Snow. "I was never treated before so in the whole course of my life!" And she made to rise again. Again Beatrice pushed her back. "I am stronger than you, Mrs. Snow," she said scornfully; "you shall sit down, and you shall tell me everything you know." "And if I do not?" "I'll go at once to the police." Mrs. Snow turned white. "To the police?" "Yes. Listen. I believe that the man with the black patch who murdered my father, Colonel Hall, also murdered Mr. Alpenny. My mother is entirely innocent, and were she alive she would say so." Mrs. Snow laughed at this remark, but in a hollow manner. "Yes, you may laugh, Mrs. Snow, but what I say is true," resumed Beatrice firmly; "and if you don't tell me all you know, I shall tell the police that you accuse my mother and say that you can substantiate your accusation. When arrested, you may be forced to speak out."