to try to trace
out and defeat the plot hatched by Walter Dunsmore and Deede Dawson.

"You people wouldn't act," he said to the inspector. "You said there
was no evidence, no proof, and I daresay you were right enough from the
legal point of view. But it was plain enough to me that there was
some sort of conspiracy against my uncle's life, I thought against my
father's as well, but I was not sure of that at first. It was through
poor Charley Wright I became so certain. He found out things and told me
about them; but for him the first attempt to poison my uncle would have
succeeded. Even then we had still no evidence to prove the reality of
our suspicions, for Walter destroyed it, by accident, I thought at the
time, purposely, as I know now. It was something Walter said that gave
Charley the idea of coming here. Then he vanished. He must have roused
their suspicions somehow, and they killed him. But again Walter put us
all off the scent by his story of having seen Charley in London, so that
it was there the search for him was made, and no one ever thought of
Bittermeads. I never suspected Walter, such an idea never entered my
head; but luckily I didn't tell him of my idea of coming to Bittermeads
myself to try to find out what was really going on here. He knew nothing
of where I was till I told him that day at Wreste Abbey, then of course
he came over here at once. I thought it was anxiety for my safety, but I
expect really it was to warn his friends. When I saw him here that night
I told him every single thing, I trusted the carrying-out of everything
I had arranged to him. If it hadn't been for a note Miss Cayley wrote
me to warn me, I should have walked right into the trap and so would my
father too."

The police-inspector asked a few questions and then made a search of the
room which resulted in the discovery of quite sufficient proof of the
guilt of Deede Dawson and of Walter Dunsmore.

Among these proofs was also a hastily-scribbled note from Walter that
solved the mystery of John Clive's death. It was not signed, but both
General Dunsmore and Rupert knew his writing and were prepared to swear
to it. Beginning abruptly and scribbled on a torn scrap of paper, it
ran:

"I found Clive where you said, lucky you got hold of the note and read
it before she sent it, for no doubt she meant to warn him. Take care she
gets no chance of the sort again. I did Clive's business all right.
She saw me and I think recognized m