The Marchese turned to Foster.
"Mr.--whatever your name is," he said, "do you believe this charge?"
"Mrs. Verschoyle says you committed the murder;" returned Foster.
"Mrs. Verschoyle," said Matteo, contemptuously, "is a madwoman."
"Am I?" she returned quietly; "you'll find there's some method in my madness."
"I can disprove the whole charge," said Vassalla, moving towards his writing-table.
"Come, sir," said the detective, "we must be going."
"Going----with you?" retorted Vassalla, in an angry tone, "are you mad? I can disprove this charge," and he threw open the desk and took his portfolio from it.
"Try," said Mrs. Verschoyle, laconically.
Muttering a curse, the Marchese opened his portfolio, and ran through a number of letters. Suddenly he turned round with a ghastly face: