“What sort of help?”
“To prove my innocence.”
“How can I, or how can Latimer? We know nothing.”
“I think you know a great deal,” returned the other acidly, and shuffled to the fire again, as the night was chilly and he required warmth; “from what Jotty told me, you brought about my arrest.”
“Pardon me, Mr. Sorley,” struck in Dick before his friend could speak, “but I am the one who did that. Since you have seen Jotty you must know that he found the letter which you wrote making an appointment with Grison on the very night and about the very time when the poor devil was killed. He showed that letter to us, and Alan was all in favor of leaving the matter alone, since he has some sympathy for you as the uncle of Miss Inderwick. But I declined to compound a felony, and I went to Inspector Moon to explain that you were the criminal.”
“I am not the criminal,” cried Sorley furiously. “I did not murder the man. As to Jotty showing you my letter——”
“Then you admit the letter?” demanded Dick swiftly.
“Certainly I do. Why should I not? But the boy never told me that he had acted in such a Judas way. He came down to see me with a copy of The Latest News in his pocket, and when I read the interview I went away on the impulse of the moment, recognizing how dangerous was my position.”
“Why did the boy go to warn you?”
“Because he wanted money. Didn’t he get money for giving up that letter?”