"I have not much to tell," said Roper, smoothly. "You read my letter?"
"Yes, we read your letter," echoed Foster, quickly; "that Mrs. Dexter, said Mrs. Verschoyle had not been out of the house. Monteith saw Vassalla, who corroborated the fact, and showed me a letter from Mrs. Verschoyle, which proved Mrs. Dexter's statement to be true, but----"
"Go on," said Roger, calmly, "I like but's--there is always a chance of another step being made when 'but' comes into the question. What did you do after seeing Vassalla?" addressing himself to the Australian.
"I saw Miss Cotoner," burst out Monteith.
"Humph!"--there was a world of meaning in Roper's voice, "and she said----"
"That Mrs. Verschoyle had been on board."
"I thought so."
"And afterwards denied it."
"Indeed!" Roper's eyebrows went up. "At whose instigation?"
"Vassalla's," broke in Foster, hastily, before Ronald could speak.