"That man of yours is outside," she said savagely; "he's been following me about everywhere, and watching my house all night. Perhaps you'll ask him to go away." "That depends on the result of this conversation. You're not out of danger yet, Miss Gernon." "I am not aware that I was ever in danger, Mr. Denham! Are you going to accuse me of killing Felix?" "I might even do that unless you tell the truth!" "Oh!" said she, with a sneer; "is that your game, sir? Then suppose I do tell the truth, and say you killed Felix?" "You're quite capable of doing so, but no one would believe so wild a tale. I had no reason to kill Felix Briarfield." "Then what motive had I for so doing?" "That's best known to yourself," I answered tartly, weary of all this fencing. "It is waste of time talking like this," interrupted Francis. "You must be aware, Miss Gernon, that you stand in a very dangerous position." "Not more so than you do yourself," she replied, with superb insolence. "Pardon me, I think otherwise. By your own confession you went down to the Fen Inn to assist my brother in getting me out of the way. You said that last night before two witnesses--Miss Bellin and Mr. Denham." "I talked at random," she muttered. "I did not intend that any crime should be committed." "Perhaps not. Nevertheless, my brother is dead, and you know how he died." "I know the cause of his death, but I do not know who killed him!" "If you know one thing, you must know the other." "I do not! When Felix arrived, he showed Strent and I an arrowhead which he said was poisoned." "Is this the arrowhead?" I asked, producing it out of a thick piece of paper. "Yes; where did you get it?" "I found it in the ashes of the fireplace where you threw it!" "That is not true," said Miss Gernon angrily. "I did not throw it into the fireplace. I never even had it my hand--the idea that it was poisoned frightened me." "Pray go on with your story, Miss Gernon." "I see you don't believe me," she flashed out defiantly, "but I am telling exactly what took place. Felix said he was going to kill his brother with the poisoned arrowhead. I told him I would have none of that sort of thing; that I only consented to play the part of a waiting maid in order to deceive his brother into a meeting. I said Francis could marry Miss Bellin, and he was to marry me." "And after that?" "He jeered and said he intended to marry Miss Bellin. Then I grew angry and struck him!" She was in real earnest, for her mouth was set, and her hands were clenched. Not a pretty sight by any means. I remembered Merrick's idea, and conceived that it might be possible the woman before me had killed the man who flouted her, not intentionally, but in a fit of blind rage. "You struck him with the arrowhead?" I hinted.