"But who was he? I don't suppose Mrs. Beatson dressed herself as a man to----"
"No! No! That is ridiculous. Mrs. Beatson was made a catspaw by the same man to get the will without throwing suspicions on him."
"I didn't write that anonymous letter, if that is what you mean," said Mallien tartly and uneasily.
"I am aware of that. It was Carrington who----"
"Carrington!" Mallien started to his feet. "Impossible! He was in town on the night of the murder."
"He was in Barship, and he was the man you ran across in the avenue," said Rupert grimly. "No wonder he pointed out your opal on the verge of the hole wherein the will had been buried. He dropped it there while my back was turned and allowed me to find it, so as to incriminate you."
Mallien was thunderstruck. "Carrington!" he muttered, sitting down again. "Oh, it is impossible."
"Not at all. Dr. Tollart came down with Carrington in the train which arrives at Barship shortly after nine. He wasn't with him, you understand; but he saw him both at Liverpool Street and at Barship."
"Then why didn't Tollart say so at the inquest?"
"Why should he? Tollart never connected Carrington with the crime. He believed that he came down to see me, and, as Carrington was with me the next day, of course that gave color to Tollart's belief. However, he mentioned the matter to Sophy, and she told me and Dorinda. For that reason Dorinda came to see me yesterday, and we arranged that I should see you. Now you can understand, Mallien, that we must join forces to have Carrington arrested. I have not the least doubt but what he murdered Leigh to get the will and extort money for it, either from you or from me."