"Who do you say struck the blow?"
"I did not say. But you know perfectly well the man you sent here to strike it. And so do I."
"You actually charge me with being concerned in having my own brother assassinated?" he cried with well assumed indignation. "It is infamous!"
"Infamous, of course—but true."
"I mean such a charge, madam," he declared, sternly. "I will speak no further with you. You will of course remain here until the agents of the police arrive."
"I have no wish to leave. I tell you I am innocent."
"You at least are found here alone; you admit having fled from the city yesterday and returned surreptitiously; you brought your own man here and sent my brother's away; you have a motive strong enough to account for all in your resentment of my brother's treatment of you; and you seek to put the foulness upon me with an elaborate story that you know the man who did this to have been brought here by me."
"It has a very ugly look, I admit—but there is a flaw in it, none the less."
"That is for others to investigate, madam. I will go to the room. It is locked. Where is the key?"
I took it from my pocket and handed it to him.