When I got back to the inspector's room, I found that his ill temper had vanished, and he was doing his best to console Francis.
"I've seen a man in a worse plight than is yours, Mr. Briarfield," he was saying, when I entered, "and yet he came out all right in the end. The cause of his predicament was similar."
"What's that?" said Francis, looking up.
"Lack of moral courage. Had you told Denham at the time, and then both of you had told me, we might have laid our hands on Rose Gernon and Strent. As it was, you gave them time to make up their plans and get away."
"Rose hasn't got away," said I grimly. "She's safe enough, and will be here to-morrow."
"I wish we could say the same about Strent," said the inspector.
"Do you think he is guilty?" asked Francis.
"Upon my word, sir, after all my experience of the law, I am afraid to say who is guilty and who isn't. That theory of Dr. Merrick's regarding Rose Gernon is feasible enough. She certainly seems to have had more motive for killing your brother than had Strent."
"It's my opinion," said I, "that there is a relationship between Strent and Rose. In such relationship lies the secret of the crime and her silence."
"Humph! There's something in that," said the inspector. "They might be man and wife."