"Rupert had as much reason to murder Leigh as I had.".
"I don't agree with you, since he is so scrupulously honest. If the money is yours, you will have it, so why should Hendle murder a man to get what in the end would not benefit him? Now, you----"
"I tell you, Carrington, I did not touch the man!" vociferated Mallien.
"Bosh! You struck him down and got the will and buried it under the sundial, as you know. Then you made use of Mrs. Beatson to avert suspicion from yourself by sending the anonymous letter telling where it was."
"I didn't send the letter," insisted Mallien, looking gray and worn.
"You did. You were in Town for a few days, and while you were away, the housekeeper got the letter. Since you had promised her an annuity of two hundred a year, you knew very well that she would give the will to you rather than to Hendle. It was a very clever scheme, Mallien."
"You are talking rubbish!" cried the man in consternation, for he saw how strong was the evidence against him. "How can you prove that I was at the Vicarage on that night?"
"Where is your opal in the matrix?" asked Carrington, glancing at Mallien's watch chain significantly.
"I--I--I--lost it," hesitated the other.
"You did, and Hendle found it in my presence near the sundial; on the very verge of the hole wherein you buried the will."