"Of course, and the jewel being recovered, I would then and there have taken it back to Japan, but for the murder of Mrs. Pentreddle."
"Theodore did murder her, then?" said Basil in a low, shamed voice.
"Oh, yes, and in the way her son told you. My man with the scar saw the crime committed, and secured the scarf, as evidence, with the name of your brother marked in the corner."
"Bad as Theodore was," said Basil, drawing a deep breath, "I am glad that you did not shame the family by denouncing him."
Akira smiled at him in a friendly way. "Of course, you are my friend," he observed. "Also, I wished to find young Pentreddle. I came down to Beckleigh, as you know, and left instructions to my two men to send down the Jewel to Mr. Colpster. But before leaving London I reversed the power."
"But I don't see----"
"I do not expect you to see, my dear man," interrupted Akira quickly; "but the jewel arrived with the power reversed."
"Yes," Patricia nodded again. "I felt it," and she shivered.
"Well, then," Akira glanced at his watch, "there is little more to tell. I simply waited while the Jewel did its work of loosening the cliff. All the time it was in the house it was drawing those tons of earth down on the place. I heard in the drawing-room that night that Mr. Colpster was going to speak to Pentreddle, and pretended to go to bed. Instead of doing so, I got out of the window and intercepted him on the winding road. I then told him that I could prove who killed his mother, and sent him to wait for my arrival in London. He went the next morning. I came on later, and then I made my man with the scar tell him everything. Pentreddle left me with a full statement, signed by my man and witnessed. As your brother is dead and it is useless to make a scandal," said Akira, glancing at Basil, "I got that document from him last night and burned it."
Dane leaned forward and shook the hand of the Japanese. "I am greatly obliged to you," he said with emotion.