“There was no need,” put in Alan. “Mr. Sorley intended to give himself up.” Moon smiled derisively. “I doubt that, seeing how he ran away from his own house at Belstone.” “I did so on the impulse of the moment,” cried Sorley, drawing himself up with some dignity; “but later I saw that my flight gave color to the charge against me. As I am quite innocent, I intended to give myself up so that the matter could be inquired into, and I do so now.” “Because you can’t help yourself,” said Moon with a shrug; “come away, sir, at once. I have a cab at the door.” “Oh, I sha’n’t try to escape, for I am innocent,” persisted the old man; “because I have the peacock it is supposed that I murdered Grison.” “It is very good evidence, you know,” Moon assured him. “It was that woman, who brought the peacock down to The Monastery.” Miss Grison laughed scornfully. “I told you he would say that,” she said, addressing Moon, “and I solemnly swear that I did no such thing.” “You stole it from me over twenty years ago,” cried Sorley insistently. “I took it, certainly,” admitted the woman coolly, “because you owed my brother money, and it was necessary to hold something valuable belonging to you so that he might be paid. You never paid, and preferred to get back your property, or rather that of your niece, by crime.” “It is wholly false.” “Tell that to the judge and jury,” she sneered, “I warned you that you would be punished for your iniquity, and now the time has come.” “The time has not come,” said Sorley furiously; “you have involved me in difficulties somehow, and I am trapped. But I believe that the Indian who lives here has been used by you to bring about my disgrace. He also knew about the peacock—— “Come! come,” interrupted Moon in a peremptory manner, “remember what you say will be used in evidence against you. Better hold your tongue and come away at once. I regret to say——” He stepped forward clinking handcuffs. “No,” almost screamed Sorley, backing against the wall with a gesture of refusal, “there is no need for that shame. I won’t run away; I intended to give myself up, indeed I did, I did.” “Put them on, put them on,” cried Miss Grison, clapping her hands with delight, “he murdered Baldwin and deserves punishment.” “I won’t run away, I won’t run away,” whimpered Sorley piteously. Alan, sorry for the man, interfered. “Indeed I don’t think that there is any need to take such a precaution, Mr. Inspector. He really came to me and Mr. Latimer this evening to surrender himself to the law.” Dick nodded. “I agree with Fuller,” he remarked, and Sorley cast a grateful look in his direction, as Moon after a moment’s hesitation placed the handcuffs in his pocket. “I won’t put them on in the house,” he said graciously, “so when we go, no one will see that you have been arrested on so serious a charge. But in the cab——”