At seven o'clock that same evening Allen and his American friend were walking to Mrs. Palmer's to dine. As yet, Allen knew nothing of what had transpired at Misery Castle, for Eva was keeping the story till they met. But as the two men passed the little inn they saw Giles Merry descend from a holiday-making _char-à-banc_. Two or three men had just passed into the inn, no doubt to seek liquid refreshment. Allen knew Merry's face, as Mrs. Merry had shown him a photograph of Signor Antonio in stage dress, which she had obtained from Cain. The man was a handsome and noticeable blackguard, and moreover his good looks were reproduced in Cain. Therefore young Hill knew him at once, and stepped forward. "Good evening, Mr. Merry," he said; "I have long wished to meet you." Giles looked surly. "My name is Signor Antonio, monsieur," he said. "Oh," mocked Allen, "and being Italian you speak English and French badly?" "What do you want?" demanded Giles savagely, and becoming the English gipsy at once. "I've no time to waste?" "Why did you send that cross to Mr. Hill?" Giles grinned. "Just to give him a fright," he said. "I knew he was a milk-and-water fool, as I saw a lot of him in the old days, when I did Strode's dirty work." "You dug up the wooden hand?" "No, I didn't. Butsey, who was on the watch, saw Hill plant it, and dug it up. He brought it to me, and I gave it to Father Don. Then Butsey stole it back, and passed it along to that young woman you're going to marry." "I guess," said Horace at this point, "you'd best speak civil of Miss Strode. I'm not taking any insolence this day." Allen nodded approval, and Giles cast a look over the big limbs of the American. Apparently, strong man as he was, he thought it would be best not to try conclusions with such a giant. "I wish I'd met you in Father Don's den," he said. "I'd have smashed that handsome face of yours." "Two can play at that game," said Allen quietly; "and now, Mr. Merry, or Signor Antonio, or whatever you choose to call yourself, why shouldn't I hand you over to Wasp?" "You can't bring any charge against me." "Oh, can't I? You know something about this murder----" "I was playing my turn at the circus in Westhaven when the shot was fired," said Giles coolly. "I didn't say you shot the man yourself; but you know who did." "No, I don't," said Merry, his face growing dark; "if I did know the man, I'd make him a present. I'd like to have killed Strode myself. He played me many a dirty trick, and I said I'd be even with him. But some one else got in before me. As to arrest," he went on sneeringly, "don't you think I'd be such a fool as to come down here, unless I was sure of my ground. Arrest me indeed!" "I can on suspicion. You're in with the Perry Street gang." Giles cast a look towards the inn and laughed. "Well, you've got to prove that I and the rest have done wrong, before you can run us all in." "The wooden hand----"