"Whose corpse?"

"That of the man who had assisted to steal the body, Clara Maria. Your husband, Dr. Warrender!"

"You liar!" shrieked the widow, making a bound at him. "Oh, you liar!"

Alan flung himself between these affectionate relatives, or it might have fared badly with Cicero.

"Hold hard, Mrs. Warrender!" he said, holding her back; "let us listen."

"Listen to his lies! Do you hear that he says my husband stole Mr. Marlow's body?"

"So he did," said Cicero doggedly. "I'm telling you what I shall tell to the police. The tall man was Dr. Warrender. I saw his face in the lantern-light. Who the short man was I do not know."

"How did you recognize Dr. Warrender?" demanded Alan, when Mrs. Warrender had sat down again.

"I didn't know him at the time; but I had his description from the servants."

"Tall, yellow beard, bald head?" said Thorold rapidly.