"Have you said anything to her?"
"No! She is quite in the dark as to her treachery having been discovered."
Carrington thought for a few moments. "If Mallien goes to the police, she will then learn that you know how she has behaved."
"Mallien is not going to the police," said Rupert, quietly.
"But I thought you said in your letter that he had given you one week to----"
"Yes, yes," interrupted the younger man, "I did say so, and such was the case when I wrote. But circumstances have changed since then, thanks to Dorinda."
"Miss Mallien? What has she to do with the matter?"
"A great deal. Last night she came over, as her father had told her about the will. I was forced to tell her that Mallien threatened to accuse me of the murder."
"Oh! Oh!" said Carrington significantly. "So Mallien did not tell her that?"
"No. He was ashamed to, I suppose, as he is well aware that I am innocent. But this morning he had a row with Dorinda about her engagement to me, and she stood up for me, bless her. What she said, or what he said, I don't know, but Dorinda sent over a note this morning saying that her father had changed his mind about speaking to Lawson."