Maud clenched her hands and bit her lip.
"I don't mean what you mean," she declared angrily. "If I can prove his innocence I should be glad to do so, but I know nothing of my father's affairs or what led to his death. Mr. Ritson, the lawyer, may know. Ask him, and perhaps he will help you to prove my cousin's innocence. But things look black against Angus. Inspector Trent says so. It would be wiser if he went away."
"Why do you wish him to go away?"
Maud stamped her foot, "I don't want a cousin of mine to be hanged for the murder of my father," she said irritably. "Can't you see how unpleasant that would be for me? I am engaged to Bruce, but he is proud and haughty. If Angus was hanged, Bruce might refuse to become my husband."
"Not while you have fifty thousand a year," said Browne, grimly.
"You don't know Bruce----"
"Not well, as I have only met him once. But at the first glance I saw that he was an adventurer. He is the very model of those soldiers of fortune who abounded in Europe in the Middle Ages."
"And like them he may carve out a kingdom for himself."
"Doubtless, since money now-a-days is more necessary than a sword to procure such a kingdom," retorted Browne. "However, that is your affair. What sum will you give Herries, always presuming that he will communicate with me?"
"One thousand pounds."