"Where did you lose it?" asked Gebb, eagerly, for this was a most important point.
Dean shook his head. "I can't say," he replied. "I saw Mr. Alder at the door of the Town Hall, and told him that I was going back, but gave him the confession, and asked him to show it to Basson. He tried to get me to remain, but I was bent on returning, and knew that the confession was safe in his hands. I ran to the station, but there found I had lost my ticket, where I know not. I had no money to buy another, so I went back to the Town Hall and saw Mr. Alder again about half-past nine o'clock. Then, to my surprise, I saw Edith enter the Hall."
"I had just returned from getting the necklace from Miss Gilmar," explained Edith. "I came up to Grangebury after you did."
"I did not know you were out of Kirkstone Hall," said Dean. "Well, I did not trouble to wonder why you were there; but lest you should see me I kept myself out of sight. I then explained my position to Mr. Alder. He gave me some money, and advised me to stay all night at Grangebury. I was unwilling to do so, but as the last train had left I was forced to stay. I slept in the public-house where I had been before, and left by the early train next morning."
"Did you hear of the murder before you left?"
"No, as I departed early. So you see, Mr. Gebb, I can prove an alibi; for at the time of the murder--ten o'clock it was, the paper said--I was asleep in the public-house. The keeper of it can prove that I was."
"What is the name of the public-house?"
"The Golden Hind, near the railway station."
Gebb noted this name in his pocket-book, and rose to his feet "So this is all you have to tell me?" said he, briskly.
"All!--and enough, too. I don't know who killed Ellen Gilmar. It was not I."