t,
Mr. Headland. For the moment, in that room of terror, I had forgotten
poor Franco's death. But now--yes, I can remember it all fully. My uncle
spoke the truth, Mr. Headland--I can promise you that."

Cleek sighed. Then:

"But it was _your_ revolver he used, Miss Brellier? Try to remember. He
said that he told you of it at the time. Can you recollect your uncle
telling you that he used your revolver to shoot the dog with, or not?
That is what I want to know."

She shrugged her shoulders and spread out her hands.

"It is so _difficile_. I am trying to remember, and the matter seemed
then so trivial! But there is no reason to doubt my uncle, Mr. Headland,
for he loves Nigel dearly, and if there was any way in which he could
help to unravel this so terrible plot against him--Oh! I am _sure_ he
must have told me so, _sure_! There would be no point in his telling an
untruth over that."

"And yet you can not recall the actual remark that your uncle made, Miss
Brellier?"

"No. But I am sure, sure that what he said was true."

Cleek shrugged his shoulders.

"Then, of course, you must know best. Well, we must try and find some
other loophole. I promised Merriton I'd speak a few words to you, Miss
Brellier, just to tell you to keep up heart--though it's a difficult
task. But everything that can be done, _will_ be done. And--if you should
happen to hear that I have thrown up the case, and gone back to London,
don't be a bit surprised. There are other ways, other means of helping
than the average person dreams of. Don't mention anything I have said to
you to _anybody_. Keep you own counsel, please, and as a token of my
regard for that I will give you my word that everything that _can_ be
done for Merriton will be. Good-bye."

He put out his hand and she laid her slim one in it. For a moment her
eyes measured him, scanning his face as though to trace therein anything
of treachery to the cause which she held so dear. Then her face broke
into a wintry smile.

"I have a feeling, Mr. Headland," she said softly, "that you are going
to be a good friend to us, Nigel and me. It is a woman's intuition that
tells me, and it helps me to bear the too dreadful suspense under which
we are all now labouring. You have my word of honour never to speak of
this talk together, and to keep a guard on my tongue for the future, if
it is to help Nigel. You will let me know how things go on, Mr.
Headland?"

"That I cannot for the present te