“Thank you. If I have your permission to use this information in my own way neither you nor your daughter need fear anything more.”
The astonished woman stopped him on the way to the door.
“But after Madame Bonnell had got the letters she turned round and refused to go on with the plot. How did my husband die?”
“I am going to ask her that.”
CHAPTER XX
THE FINGER-PRINT
When Sir Frank Tarleton walked into the room on his return from Paris the first thing he did was to put his gold repeater to his ear and make it ring out its musical notes. It was the sign of triumph.
He told me everything just as I have described it. Then he transfixed me with a question.
“I expect you to be as candid with me as Mrs. Neobard has been. Did you put this poison into Wethered’s cup along with the opium?”
It was no more than I ought to have expected; no more than I had deserved. But it gave me a greater shock than I could have thought possible.
“Before God I am innocent of that!” I swore.