"There is no reason why she should not be," he replied argumentatively. "She had every reason to hate Felix Briarfield. He had promised to marry her, and was engaged to Olivia. Quite enough reason there for a jealous woman such as she seems to be."
"But she wanted Felix to kill his brother, so that she might force him to marry her."
"Yes; but that little arrangement did not come off. My idea is that she saw Felix when he arrived at the inn, and asked him straight out if he had arranged to marry Olivia. She would hear of the engagement while passing through Marshminster on her way to the lone inn. No doubt Felix lied about the matter, and she lost her temper. It may be that she did not intend to kill him, but, having the poisoned arrowhead in her hand, forgot how dangerous it was, and threw herself on him. He put out his hand to keep her off, and so was wounded. Then he died, and, terrified at what the consequences might be, she and Strent left the inn."
"But what about her blackmailing Francis?"
"She guessed what Francis had done, and saw a chance of securing her aims by putting the murder on to him. He had so compromised himself by his foolish actions that, of course, he was afraid to denounce her."
"Still, why did she want to marry him? She loved Felix, not Francis."
"It's my opinion she loved neither of them," said Merrick dryly, "and simply wanted to marry for respectability."
"Do you think she will denounce Strent?"
"She'll denounce anyone to save herself."
"Won't you come and hear her confession, Merrick?"