und in Mr. Ashton's
room. It is possible that he had it himself, that he kept it, as a
souvenir of some former meeting, although in that case it would hardly
have retained the strong scent of perfume which I notice upon it. But
you might have dropped it at table--he may have picked it up that very
night. It is for these reasons, Miss, that I asked you when you last saw
Mr. Ashton alive, and you refuse to answer me. I desire only the truth,
Miss Temple. I have no desire to accuse anyone unjustly. Tell us, if you
can, how the handkerchief came in Mr. Ashton's room."

At these words, delivered in an earnest and convincing manner, I saw
Miss Temple's face change. She felt that the detective was right, as
indeed, did I, and I waited anxiously for her next words.

"I last saw Mr. Ashton," she answered, with a faint blush, "last night
about midnight."

Her answer was as much of a surprise to me as it evidently was to both
Major Temple and the detective.

"Muriel," exclaimed the former, in horrified tones.

"I went to his room immediately after he retired," continued Miss
Temple, with evident effort. "I wished to tell him something--something
important--before the morning, when it might have been too late. I was
afraid to stand in the hallway and talk to him through the open door for
fear I should be seen. I went inside. I must have dropped the
handkerchief at that time."

"Will you tell us what you wished to say to Mr. Ashton that you regarded
as so important as to take you to his room at midnight?"

Again Miss Temple hesitated, then evidently decided to tell all. "I went
to tell him," she said, gravely, "that, no matter what my father might
promise him, I would refuse to marry him under any circumstances. I told
him that, if he turned over the emerald to my father under any such
promise, he would do so at his own risk. I begged him to release me from
the engagement which my father had made, and to give me back a letter
in which, at my father's demand, I had in a moment of weakness consented
to it."

"And he refused?" asked the detective.

"He refused." Miss Temple bowed her head, and I saw from the tears in
her eyes that her endurance and spirit under this cross-questioning were
fast deserting her.

"Then what did you do?"

"I went back to my room."

"Did you retire?"

"No."

"Did you remove your clothing?"

"I did not. I threw myself upon the bed until--" She hesitated, and I
suddenly saw the snare into