“Go on, go on,” said Moon impatiently, “there’s no time to be lost.”
“I have nearly finished,” said Miss Grison tartly, “don’t hurry me, as
you must admit that my confession is interesting. I killed Baldwin with
this,” she added, taking up the stiletto which lay on the table, “and I
took it away, along with the peacock, intending to hide both in this
house. Jotty—ungrateful little reptile that he is—saw me with these
when he came to Thimble Square to tell me of the murder. Ha! ha! of the
murder which I had committed. I wept and wailed, as I was bound to do,
since my dear brother had been murdered by Sorley. Then came the
inquest, and I said nothing, for I waited my chance. The funeral took
place here, and I stayed at Mrs. Millington’s, she has been a good
friend to me. I came to this house on the day you know of, Mr. Fuller,”
she went on, addressing herself to Alan who nodded in answer, “and
while you and Marie were in the grounds, and this man—if he can be
called a man—was asleep, I placed the peacock in that black-oak
cupboard and the stiletto in the place behind that panel marked with a
cross, where I knew Sorley kept those bits of glass——”
“They are jewels, valuable jewels,” cried her husband irrelevantly.
“Oh, get on with the confession,” said Latimer sharply, for the
prolonged scene was getting on his nerves, “you hid the stiletto and
peacock.”
“Yes,” said Miss Grison snappishly, “and then I waited, guessing that
Sorley would probably seek Mr. Fuller’s help to solve the riddle of the
bird. That was why I introduced the subject of cryptograms on that day
when we were at tea, Mr. Fuller. When I learned that Jotty had Sorley’s
reply to the request of Baldwin I sent him to you so that it might
implicate this beast of a husband of mine. Then when Jotty told me
about the drawing of the peacock, I knew that Sorley had consulted you,
since no drawing had ever been made of the thing. My trap was set, and
by making the matter of the peacock public, I closed it on the man I
hate.”
She shut her mouth with a snap, and idly dug the stiletto into the
table as if she had finished. “What else?” questioned Moon imperiously.
“Nothing else,” said Miss Grison raising her pale eyes; “you know all.
The trap caught the bird, and my revenge would have been complete had
not this fool learned more than he should have. You, I mean, you,” said
Miss Grison walking slowly towards the Indian, “why couldn’t you let me
have my way?”
“I wanted the jewels,” said Bakche stolidly, and not moving even when
she was face to face with him.
“You shall never have them,” cried Miss Grison unexpectedly, and before
anyone could move she raised her arm. In a moment the stiletto was in
the Indian’s heart, and he fell like a log on the floor.
“Great God!” roared the inspector and sprang forward.
Miss Grison put out her frail arms. “Go on, put the handcuffs here,”
she mocked coolly. “I have settled the beast who balked me of my
revenge!”