"It was your idea about Margery that put me on the scent," he said with great complacency; "though, to be sure, I had my suspicions before. It was to watch Miss Bull that I came here." "What made you think that she was guilty?" "She has confessed--in the calmest manner, too--that----" "I mean before. Why did you suspect her?" "Well, it seemed to me that she was the only person who could have killed Eliza. She and Eliza hated one another because of their mutual love for your father." George groaned. What a lot of trouble his father had caused with his handsome looks and charming manners. Even after his death the fatal attraction he exercised seemed to bring about disaster. "She did not kill Mrs. Jersey on that account," he said. "Wait till you hear. She will tell you. In fact, she asked me to send for you, as she wishes to speak." "Where is she now?" "In the famous sitting-room playing Patience." "Doesn't she realize the peril of her position?" "In a way she does. But she seems quite ready to face the worst." "Poor woman," said George, thinking of the sad life which the old maid had led; "if she has sinned, she has suffered." "If people will use knives in that way they must be punished," was the rather harsh retort of Bawdsey. "Don't talk stuff, Bawdsey. You have your own sins to think of." "I never committed murder." "No one said you had, but you may do so before you die." Bawdsey shuddered. "I hope not, Mr. Vane," he said. "I don't know why you should say such a thing. I am an honest man." "You say that so often that I shall begin to disbelieve it," replied Brendon, rather cynically; "but if you marry Lola, either you will kill her or she will kill you." "I'll take my chance of that. And if you----" George made an impatient gesture with his hand and returned to his seat. "Never mind further chatter. Let me hear how you came to learn that this poor creature struck the blow." "If you talk that way of a criminal, Mr. Vane, what will you say of a good woman?" "My good man, there is more joy over a sinner that repenteth----" "But Miss Bull doesn't repent," said Bawdsey. "I'll hear the story before I give an opinion on that point. You say that it was some remark I made which----" "Yes, it was," said Bawdsey, eagerly, and throwing himself into a seat. "Your remark that Margery might be guilty----" "One moment," interrupted George, in his turn. "I may tell you that I have seen Mr. Ireland, and he declares that he never was near the house on that night, that he knew nothing of the confession, and that he had no latch-key. He is innocent." "Now that I have heard Miss Bull I know that, sir. She's the one." "Well, and how did you find out?" Bawdsey cleared his throat and began, with a most important air: "I rather agreed with your idea that Margery might be guilty," he said, "and when I turned it over in my own mind I thought it more and more probable. I therefore determined to get Margery alone and work on her fears."