"I'm glad of that. Well, I think I have an idea; but surely he cannot be guilty of the murder."

"Who, sir?"

Maxwell, who had risen to his feet, looked at her keenly.

"Have you any idea of whom I am talking?"

"None in the least, sir."

The young man walked to the other end of the room, then retraced his steps slowly.

"Mrs. Belk," he said, after a pause, "do you know if there were any strangers in Deswarth on the night of the murder?"

"Only one, sir. A furriner at The Chequers, and he went away next morning."

"Do you think he knew Sir Rupert?"

"I do not know, sir. All I know is that I found that scarf-pin near where the murder was committed. If it belongs to the furriner, he killed Sir Rupert."