tch were touched," continued Mr. Gresham.
"Anger, or the desire of putting the man out of the way, has caused
the murder. Of the two enemies one,--according to the facts as we now
have them,--could not have been there. Nor is it probable that he
could have known that his enemy would be on that spot. The other not
only could have been there, but was certainly near the place at the
moment,--so near that did he not do the deed himself, it is almost
wonderful that it should not have been interrupted in its doing by
his nearness. He certainly knew that the victim would be there.
He was burning with anger against him at the moment. He had just
threatened him. He had with him such an instrument as was afterwards
used. A man believed to be him is seen hurrying to the spot by a
witness whose credibility is beyond doubt. These are the facts such
as we have them at present. Unless they can be upset, I fear they
would convince a jury,--as they have already convinced those officers
of the police."

"Officers of the police always believe men to be guilty," said Lord
Cantrip.

"They don't believe the Jew clergyman to be guilty," said Mr.
Gresham.

"I fear that there will be enough to send Mr. Finn to a trial," said
the Duke.

"Not a doubt of it," said Mr. Gresham.

"And yet I feel as convinced of his innocence as I do of my own,"
said Lord Cantrip.

CHAPTER XLVIII

Mr. Maule's Attempt

About three o'clock in the day the first tidings of what had taken
place reached Madame Goesler in the following perturbed note from her
friend the Duchess:--"Have you heard what took place last night? Good
God! Mr. Bonteen was murdered as he came home from his club, and they
say that it was done by Phineas Finn. Plantagenet has just come in
from Downing Street, where everybody is talking about it. I can't get
from him what he believes. One never can get anything from him. But
I never will believe it;--nor will you, I'm sure. I vote we stick to
him to the last. He is to be put in prison and tried. I can hardly
believe that Mr. Bonteen has been murdered, though I don't know why
he shouldn't as well as anybody else. Plantagenet talks about the
great loss; I know which would be the greatest loss, and so do you.
I'm going out now to try and find out something. Barrington Erle was
there, and if I can find him he will tell me. I shall be home by
half-past five. Do come, there's a dear woman; there is no one else I
can talk to about it. If