"I'm inclined to suspect Hwei himself," said Rodgers looking keenly at the worn face of the young man, "but this silk tie----"
"It is mine, Mr. Rodgers. Miss Rayner gave it to me last night."
"So Miss Pewsey says--on the balcony."
"Quite so. Miss Pewsey was spying and saw the tie given. As the colours are rather pronounced, she could easily identify it. I took it to the cloak-room and placed it in the pocket of my overcoat."
"And took it out again?"
"No." Rupert rose and grew crimson, "surely you are not so unjust as to believe Miss Pewsey's malignant tale."
"You may be sure, Mr. Ainsleigh, that I'll act fairly towards you," said the detective dryly, "but the tie having been used to strangle--"
"I don't know how it came round her throat," interrupted Ainsleigh imperiously, "I placed the tie in my overcoat pocket--that was the last I saw of it, until I noticed it on Miss Wharf's dead body."
"Did anyone else see the tie?"
"Yes, Major Tidman?"