"Don't listen to him,--don't listen to him," whispered Maud, pale and trembling and clinging to Herries.
"I've been dismissed the Force," complained Armour in a maundering tone, "and all on account of that there blamed murder. And she," he pointed a stumpy finger at Miss Tedder, "she knows summat about it, she does."
"It's a lie," gasped Maud, shaking from head to foot, while the eyes of Señora Guzman lighted up and she took an eager step forward.
"Oh," raved the ex-policeman, while Alice lost her head and flew out of doors shouting for help, "is it a lie that she," he pointed again towards Maud, "that she came to my house, when I was on my rounds and made my wife betray me? On the very night of the murder, she was at my house, and----"
"I came to see my old nurse," gasped Maud.
"Then what were you doing wandering about Desleigh at midnight. I got it out of my missus, I did. And you put them sailors on to me.
"No! No!"
"You did. And I believe," cried Armour, "that you murdered your father your very own self."