“I did not,” she retorted equally resolutely, and the two argued the question on and on and on until Alan and Dick both felt their heads reeling. For almost an hour the conversation continued, Latimer sometimes putting in a question, and sometimes Alan suggesting an explanation. But every time, the result was that Miss Grison refused to acknowledge that she had taken the peacock to Belstone. Then, while they were in the full tide of talk, she rose unexpectedly, and pointed towards the door.
“Come in, come in,” she almost shouted, “this is the beast.”
Inspector Moon appeared, and behind him were two policemen in plain clothes.
CHAPTER XV
THE BLACK BAG
Sorley shivered and shrank back when he saw the uniform of Inspector Moon and the two men behind him. Miss Grison, with an exulting look on her hard face, pointed to her prey, glorying in the way she had trapped him. And that it was a trap, Fuller now truly believed, since the police had appeared at so opportune a moment for the capture.
“There he is,” cried the woman excitedly; “take him away, the beast!”
Moon moved forward and laid a heavy hand on the shoulder of the wretched man, who moaned and trembled at the fatal touch. “I arrest you, Randolph Sorley, in the name of the King, for the murder of Baldwin Grison,” he said in unemotional tones, and reciting the regulation formula; “anything you say now will be used in evidence against you.”
“I am innocent, I am innocent,” was all that Sorley could say.
“And upon my soul I believe he is,” murmured Alan softly to Dick.
“If so it is just as well to have the whole matter threshed out in a proper manner,” rejoined the reporter. “How did you come here, Mr. Inspector?”