"I daresay, I was always a wrong 'un. However, I go to Italy because there I can live like a fighting-cock on an income which means penury in England. I go also because Tait and Hale and the rest of them are making things too hot for me. But before departing I wanted to see you to confess."
George lighted his pipe and looked sideways in surprise. "Confess what?"
"That I assaulted you," said Canning, nervously.
"You," George glanced in amazement at the frail figure.
"Yes. Of course I took you by surprise, or you could have knocked me into a cocked-hat. You can punch me now, Walker."
"I don't want to punch you as you put it," said George bluntly. "Of course you acted like a skunk in sneaking behind me and knocking me on the head, to say nothing of tying me up; all the same----"
"I tied you up," said Canning, who had lain down and was smoking a cigarette, "because I did not wish you to recover and get back to your cottage at Medmenham until I had secured the cross."
George turned indignantly. "Then you were the thief?" he declared.
"Yes," admitted Canning, coughing. "Kick me. I'll take it lying down."
"No," said George, after a pause; "you have done me a service through Lesbia, by preventing the success of Maud Ellis's plot. The evil you have done is counterbalanced by the good. But how did you get me into Rose Cottage?"