"When did you see Vassalla again?"
"I went to my husband's cabin, and met Vassalla coming out. He tried to prevent me from going in, but I entered, and saw my husband dead, with Matteo's stiletto in his breast. Matteo implored me to be silent, and I obeyed. I went on shore at once, and wrote the letter you saw. I would have kept silent still, only I heard that he was going to marry my sister, and determined to save her."
"You say Vassalla's stiletto was in poor Verschoyle's breast," said Foster quietly, fixing his keen eyes on her face. "Will you kindly describe the weapon?"
"An ordinary stiletto," she replied, "with a curiously carved ivory handle, representing the head of Bacchus surrounded with wreaths of grapes and vine leaves."
"Yes, that is the description of the weapon," said Foster; "but how do you know it was Vassalla's?"
"Because my sister told me she had given it to him."
Ronald started, and would have spoken, as he remembered Carmela had said the same thing; but Foster stopped him.
"You say," observed the barrister, smoothly, "that Miss Cotoner gave your cousin the stiletto; may I ask when?"
"Oh, six or seven years ago."
"And it has been in Vassalla's possession ever since?"