ny false ideas or impressions," he said at last. "I'm not
accusing Ransford of anything. I'm only telling you what I know the
police think and are on the very edge of accusing him of. To put it
plainly--of murder. They say he'd a motive for murdering Braden--and
with them motive is everything. It's the first thing they seem to think
of; they first question they ask themselves. 'Why should this man have
murdered that man?'--do you see! 'What motive had he?--that's the point.
And they think--these chaps like Mitchington and the London man--that
Ransford certainly had a motive for getting rid of Braden when they
met."

"What was the motive?" asked Mary.

"They've found out something--perhaps a good deal--about what happened
between Braden and Ransford some years ago," replied Bryce. "And their
theory is--if you want to know the truth--that Ransford ran away with
Braden's wife, and that Braden had been looking for him ever since."

Bryce had kept his eyes on Mary's hands, and now at last he saw the
girl's fingers tremble. But her voice was steady enough when she spoke.

"Is that mere conjecture on their part, or is it based on any fact?" she
asked.

"I'm not in full knowledge of all their secrets," answered Bryce, "but
I've heard enough to know that there's a basis of undeniable fact on
which they're going. I know for instance, beyond doubt, that Braden and
Ransford were bosom friends, years ago, that Braden was married to a
girl whom Ransford had wanted to marry, that Braden's wife suddenly
left him, mysteriously, a few years later, and that, at the same time,
Ransford made an equally mysterious disappearance. The police know
all that. What is the inference to be drawn? What inference would any
one--you yourself, for example--draw?"

"None, till I've heard what Dr. Ransford had to say," replied Mary.

Bryce disliked that ready retort. He was beginning to feel that he was
being met by some force stronger that his own.

"That's all very well," he remarked. "I don't say that I wouldn't do the
same. But I'm only explaining the police position, and showing you the
danger likely to arise from it. The police theory is this, as far as
I can make it out: Ransford, years ago, did Braden a wrong, and Braden
certainly swore revenge when he could find him. Circumstances prevented
Braden from seeking him closely for some time; at last they met here, by
accident. Here the police aren't decided. One theory is that there was
an al