Rebb looked astonished, but made no comment, being too occupied in exonerating himself. "Then you know that she suffered greatly from nerves, and was afraid of being discovered and killed. Often she shrieked at night, as Mavis told me, and at times, when here late, I heard her myself. I therefore merely thought that Bellaria was in one of her mad fits and went on searching. About one o'clock I climbed the bank and, crossing the stream by the bridge to Leegarth, I went to the gate of the Pixy's House, wondering if you had dared to come there, after seeing me. I found the gates opened and Bellaria dead. As I was stooping over the body, Geary came running from the house. He said that he had followed me to tell about your shooting him in the arm, and on finding Bellaria's body he had gone to look for Mavis. She had vanished. I searched the house also, and could not find her. I therefore came back to Denleigh with Geary, making him promise to say nothing of our midnight visit." "Why?" asked Gerald straightly. "Why?" echoed the Major, looking surprised, "when you were meddling with my affairs? Had you known of that visit at the time, you would have denounced me to the police, and I should have had great difficulty in clearing myself. I held my peace. And I tell you that I really believed, as I believe now, that Mavis had stabbed Bellaria, so as to get her liberty." "Why did you not believe that some emissary of the Tána Society had found out Bellaria's hiding place and had killed her?" "You mean Venosta?" said Rebb hurriedly; "well I own that, after the first shock of surprise, I did suspect Venosta, as Mrs. Crosbie had shown me the coral hand, and had told me the use she put it to." "Did she know about the society?" asked Gerald. "She declared that she was ignorant of its existence." "So she was. But I knew about the society at Naples fifteen or sixteen years ago, when I rescued Bellaria from its clutches. No; I don't believe Venosta killed Bellaria, although he would have done so, I am sure, had he known where she was hiding. But he did not, and who could have told him? Not Mrs. Crosbie--although you mentioned Bellaria's name and whereabouts, confound you!--as Mrs. Crosbie knew nothing of the Tána Society. Well, Haskins, you must see now that I am innocent." "It looks like it, I admit. But everything fitted in so well with your plans that I naturally thought you guilty." "Then you see that I am not," snapped Rebb, much ruffled. "If I were, would I confess my midnight journey to you?" "Seeing that Mrs. Geary is about to make it public, I think you would have had to in the long run," retorted Gerald sharply. "She mustn't do that," muttered Rebb, still walking and becoming much agitated, for he was beginning to realize his danger.