"To-night!" echoed Jen, starting up. "You saw Maurice to-night?"
"Certainly! About an hour and a half before he was murdered."
"At Deanminster?"
"At my house at Deanminster," replied the doctor with great deliberation.
"So it was you whom he went to see on business to-night?"
Etwald shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know if you call it business," he said, after a pause. "I asked Mr. Alymer to call and see me, and sent the message by that tramp named Battersea."
"I remember his coming. Go on, please."
"Mr. Alymer called, as I said," continued Etwald, "And then I told him that Miss Dallas was ill from being prevented by her mother from seeing him. That I was sorry for the poor young lady, and that I gave up my position as a rival. In fact," added the doctor, "I advised Mr. Alymer to see Miss Dallas and marry her as soon as he could."
"But why did you wish to act in this generous manner?"