"Is your name Bernard?" asked the policeman. "Yes! but--" "Then you are guilty." "He is--he is!" cried the housemaid. "He was here this evening, but went away at six. Sir Simon said he would see him after ten. Oh, Bernard, how could you!" sobbed Jane. "To think I should have took up with a man as 'ull be put in the Chamber of Horrors." "Policeman, let me go," said Gore, firmly. "There is some mistake." "The magistrate will decide that. Help will be here soon, and then you'll be lodged in jail." "Mrs. Gilroy," cried the young man, overwhelmed with horror, "you know I am innocent." "No," she said fiercely, and with her eyes on his face. "You came to see Sir Simon after ten. I let you in myself. I waited below while you spoke with Sir Simon, and you left fifteen minutes ago. I went upstairs to see my master. He was dead--strangled. I ran out calling murder, and you were almost on the doorstep." "I had only just come." "Come back, you mean," said the officer. "To see if poor master was dead," shrieked the cook. "Oh, Bernard--Bernard!" sobbed Jane, "how could you kill him! Lor'! that I should have kissed a murderer." "Hark!" said Mrs. Gilroy, raising her hand, "footsteps. The other police are coming. Take him away to jail, officer." "This is a trick--a trap!" cried Bernard, struggling to get free. "I never was in the house before--" "You have visited in the kitchen for over a fortnight," said Jane, weeping copiously. "Someone like me has, but not me. Look well, girl. Am I the man?" "Bring him under the lamp, policeman," said Jane, hesitating. "No!" said Mrs. Gilroy, pushing the housemaid back, "there is no time. Here are the police. We must go upstairs and see Sir Simon. Miss Randolph is at the theatre with Mr. Beryl. Ah--hark!" There was a sound of approaching wheels, and a moment afterwards a carriage drove up. Out of it stepped Lucy and Julius. They entered the hall and looked amazed, as they well might, on seeing Bernard in the grip of the policeman, and the alarmed women around him. "What's this?" asked Julius. "Bernard," cried Lucy, running forward, "what have you done?" "Murdered his grandfather, miss," said the policeman. Lucy uttered a wild shriek and sprang up the stairs, followed by the cook and housemaid. But Mrs. Gilroy still held her ground and caught hold of Beryl's arm. "Keep him fast, sir," she said savagely. "He came this night and murdered the master." "Julius, it is a lie!" "I hope so," said Beryl, who looked pale and startled; "but you know you quarrelled with my uncle."