"Why did you wait until the morning?"
"For two reasons. First, I wanted to get the money which Pope had taken away, and thought up to the last moment that he would return. And second, when I did have a half idea of escaping by the window, Armour came and sat down beneath it And there was a third reason," added Kyles, with his eyes on Maud Tedder.
"One moment before you proceed further," said Ritson quickly. "How can we believe all this about Pope Narby?"
"There's his confession," said Kyles, taking a packet from his breast pocket and throwing it across the table. "I saw him later; he refused to give up the money, but I made him sign that confession by threatening to arrest him, and----"
"Pope," yelled Mrs. Narby, "oh, you fool, did you sign----?"
"I had to, mother," moaned her son, "and Captain Kyles said he would save me by taking me away to America."
"And I'll do that," said Kyles nodding. "Herries, Ritson, you have now the truth. That confession repeats all that I have told you, and has been signed by Pope Narby, who killed Sir Simon. You can now leave the four thousand pounds with me and go ashore. I am off in another hour from these waters. But one thing I'll say before I go," he declared, "you, Herries, have defended your cousin, and have blamed me for treating her as I did. But you have very little reason to decry me, and defend her. For it was your cousin who placed the razor and the pocket-book in your room and who smeared your shirt with her father's blood."
"Maud!" cried Herries, horrified, and started to his feet.
"Yes, I did," she said, with pinched lips and a bloodless face, "I got into the inn, as I told you, but I did not run away when I heard Mr. Gowrie coming out of the bedroom. I hid, while he went down the stairs. Then I ran along to the room, where I saw a gleam of light----"
"It came from under the door," explained Kyles, "as I had lighted the candle on hearing Gowrie muttering."