“The time has not come,” said Sorley furiously; “you have involved me in difficulties somehow, and I am trapped. But I believe that the Indian who lives here has been used by you to bring about my disgrace. He also knew about the peacock——
“Come! come,” interrupted Moon in a peremptory manner, “remember what you say will be used in evidence against you. Better hold your tongue and come away at once. I regret to say——” He stepped forward clinking handcuffs.
“No,” almost screamed Sorley, backing against the wall with a gesture of refusal, “there is no need for that shame. I won’t run away; I intended to give myself up, indeed I did, I did.”
“Put them on, put them on,” cried Miss Grison, clapping her hands with delight, “he murdered Baldwin and deserves punishment.”
“I won’t run away, I won’t run away,” whimpered Sorley piteously.
Alan, sorry for the man, interfered. “Indeed I don’t think that there is any need to take such a precaution, Mr. Inspector. He really came to me and Mr. Latimer this evening to surrender himself to the law.”
Dick nodded. “I agree with Fuller,” he remarked, and Sorley cast a grateful look in his direction, as Moon after a moment’s hesitation placed the handcuffs in his pocket.
“I won’t put them on in the house,” he said graciously, “so when we go, no one will see that you have been arrested on so serious a charge. But in the cab——”
“I don’t mind that,” said Sorley eagerly; “only spare me the shame of being seen with them on by my fellow-creatures. Oh, dear me, and I am quite innocent,” he maundered on in a senile way, “quite innocent. When——”
“Come,” said the inspector imperiously; “I don’t wish to use force.”