"No, he did not. It was a wedding present from Margery Drabble; she told me it was her doll's locket. I did not notice it particularly at the time. But on reading Mrs. Purcell's letter again it suddenly dawned upon me that it was one of Carson's wrist-buttons." "And how did Margery come by it?" "Well, I wrote to Mrs. Drabble about that, and she replied that Margery had taken it from her father's desk on the mine-is-thine principle. Now," said Olive, "what possible connection can there be between Dr. Drabble and my husband?" CHAPTER III. "CLARA'S LETTER!" Mallow stared at her, astonished at the earnestness with which she spoke. "I am afraid I don't quite follow you," he said at length. "Of course Carson knows Dr. Drabble. He met him at Casterwell." "That is just the point. Was it for the first time he met him at Casterwell?" "I--I suppose so; but, so far as I could see, he was never very intimate with the man." "Then why should he present him with a pair of gold wrist-buttons," said Olive--"especially the pair he wore himself; the pair he had made to match that bracelet?" "Yes that is strange," admitted Mallow. "It would be, if it were a fact," said Olive. "But I do not for one moment believe that he gave them to Drabble at all." "Then how do you suppose Drabble came by them?" "That," said Olive, "is just where I am at a loss, and where I need your help. That is what we must find out." "But, Mrs. Carson----" "One minute, Mr. Mallow. Am I Mrs. Carson?" "Well, I presume so. You were married to him," said Mallow, somewhat bewildered. "I was married to some one, yes; but is that some one Angus Carson?" Mallow jumped up hurriedly. "You are not thinking of that absurd story I told you?" "I am. Not that I think it absurd now. On the contrary, I am coming to believe more in the sense of it each hour." "No, no," said Mallow. "I made every possible inquiry in London immediately before your marriage. I visited Athelstane Place; I questioned the police. But I could find nothing, absolutely nothing, to connect your husband in ever so remote a degree with that murder. Besides, look at the facts in his favour. Mr. Brock recognized him simply from his resemblance to his father, and his appearance corresponds exactly with the description of him given by Mrs. Purcell, even to the wearing of his bangle." "I don't remember seeing him wear the wrist-buttons," said Olive. "Women, you know, are observant of these little things. Do you remember Mrs. Slarge reading out her sister's letter in the presence of Angus?" "Yes, perfectly. It was then Carson showed us the bangle." "Yes. Well, I looked then for these wrist-buttons, but I noticed he wore silver sleeve-links." "On that particular occasion, perhaps?" "But he never wore the others," retorted Olive. "Again and again I watched for them. This is the first I have seen, and it comes from Margery, not from Angus." "Did you speak to your husband about it?"