Alan glanced at his friend, for the situation was very painful. He opened his mouth to speak, but could not, while Marie looked at him so appealingly. Dick, more hardened to the world, and not being in love, solved the question, as to frank speech or silence.
“Miss Inderwick,” he said bluntly, “believe me I am very sorry for you in every way, but it is just as well that you should know the truth. What Miss Grison says in that interview is true. The holder of the peacock is the person who murdered Grison for its possession.”
“But not Uncle Ran, not Uncle Ran!” she pleaded anxiously.
“I fear so,” said Latimer turning away his head; “he has the peacock.”
“It’s not true, it’s not true, Alan——”
“I fear it is, Marie,” said the young man sadly. “I saw the peacock myself in your uncle’s hands when I was down at Belstone for Christmas.”
“Oh! and you never told me.”
“I did not wish you to learn the truth, and tried to keep it from you. But since the matter has been made public, you have become acquainted with what has happened, and the flight of Mr. Sorley seems to suggest a guilty conscience. I hope he is innocent, but——”
“He is innocent,” interrupted Marie with the tears streaming down her face; “nothing will ever make me believe that Uncle Ran murdered anyone. How did he account for possession of the peacock?”
“He declared that Miss Grison must have left it in the cupboard where it had been stored twenty years ago.”