"Her confession!" repeated Alder, surprised. "What confession?"
"Ah!" said Prain, taking no notice of the barrister's question, and addressing Gebb, "so you are coming round to my opinion--that Miss Gilmar killed Kirkstone."
"It has been my opinion for some time," rejoined Gebb, coolly, "and I believe that Miss Gilmar left a confession behind her telling the truth. I don't think she would risk its discovery by carrying it about with her, so it is probable she wrote it out and concealed it in some hiding-place at Kirkstone Hall."
"In that case search the Hall," said Alder, disbelievingly. "You have my full permission to do so."
"I shall certainly avail myself of it, Mr. Alder. So Miss Wedderburn leaves the Hall. What about her protégé, Martin?"
"That lunatic! I don't know. He had better stay where he is for the present, although I think myself he should be locked up."
"What does Miss Wedderburn think?"
"She says he is mad, but not dangerous, and asked me to let him stay on at the Hall until she is settled--with Ferris, I suppose--when she will take him with her. A nice companion he will be to a young married couple."
"I'm afraid that marriage won't take place for some time," said Prain, gloomily; "even if Arthur does escape, he's too poor to keep a wife."
"In that case," said Alder, rising to take his leave, "there may be a chance for me. While there is life there's hope, you know."