“Well then,” said Marie triumphantly, “Uncle Ran is innocent, and Miss Grison is a wicked woman to say that whosoever holds the peacock murdered her brother, since she had herself——” “But, Miss Inderwick,” broke in Dick, “we cannot be sure if Mr. Sorley’s explanation is a true one.” “It is; I am sure it is. But what does Miss Grison say?” “We have not questioned her yet.” “Then I shall question her,” cried Marie, starting to her feet with a very determined air, “she shall confess to me that she brought the peacock to The Monastery so as to get Uncle Ran into trouble. She always hated him, and you heard yourself, Alan, what she said on that day. She is mad, she is mad. Uncle Ran said as much, and now I quite believe him.” “Dear Marie,” said Fuller, taking her hand, “let us hope for the best. You may be certain that for your sake I shall do my best to prove your uncle’s innocence. But there is no doubt that the evidence against him is very strong, and his flight seems to prove that the charge is true.” “I don’t believe it,” said Miss Inderwick obstinately, and sitting down again to tap a vexed foot on the ground. “Uncle Ran will come back again with an explanation. I’m sure he will.” “Let us hope so,” murmured Latimer skeptically; “but I doubt it.” “As to the evidence against him—what is it, Alan?” He told her, relating Jotty’s discovery of the letter, and showed her a copy of the same, which he had taken before Dick passed on the original to Inspector Moon. “So you see, Marie,” he ended, when she was in full possession of the painful facts, “that it seems almost certain——” “I don’t care what it seems,” interrupted Marie in her wilful feminine way, “Uncle Ran never murdered that wretched Grison.” “Then why didn’t he remain and say so?” asked Dick sharply. “He will explain that when he returns,” she retorted in a lofty tone. “In the meantime we must learn the truth.” “We know the truth,” Latimer replied. Marie stamped. “How horrid of you to take it for granted that Uncle Ran killed this man. I say he didn’t, and nothing you say, or Alan says, will convince me that he did.” “I say nothing,” put in Fuller quickly; “things look black against Mr. Sorley, but I wish to give him the benefit of the doubt.” Marie flew at him and threw her arms round his neck. “Bless you, Alan, for the words you have spoken. I am not very fond of Uncle Ran as you know, but I am sure he is innocent and you must try and prove his innocence.” “I shall do my best, darling, if you will leave the matter in my hands and return to Belstone.” “No, Alan don’t ask me to. I want to go down to Rotherhithe.” “What for?” asked Dick surprised. Marie looked at him disdainfully, for she gathered very plainly that he was not on her side. “To ask questions of that woman who keeps the house where Mr. Grison was murdered.”