"In that case I congratulate you again, Miss Dora," said Carver, compromising the matter by calling her by her Christian name; "you can now marry Dr. Scott, since your father did not kill his father."
"Do you know that story?" asked Allen with a start.
"Oh dear, yes! I was told it by my late client. But he did not inform me that this young lady was his daughter. I was always under the impression that she was the child of Captain Carew, and the ward of the late Mr. Dargill. Strange he should have kept that from me," mused the lawyer; "but I never yet knew a client to tell the whole truth."
"But this is all very well," broke in Dora. "What has Joad done--fled to London?"
"No. He has been with me for the last two hours; and by this time"--Mr. Carver glanced at his watch--"he is no doubt back in his cottage."
"Back in his cottage?" echoed the doctor. "Did he not make a confession?"
"Certainly. It was written out and signed in my presence, with two witnesses--myself and one of my clerks--to testify to the signature."
"Then he confesses the murder?"
"Oh dear me, no!" said Carver dryly; "he does nothing of the sort; but he confesses as to who committed the murder."
"Didn't he do it himself?"