Fuller, preparing to take his leave buttoned up his coat and picked up his hat. “There is one thing to be said in Sorley’s favor,” he remarked, addressing Miss Grison, “if he did murder your brother, he did you a service.”
She threw back her head scornfully. “Oh indeed! I should like to know in what way, Mr. Fuller?”
“I heard—and Latimer there is my informant—that your brother murdered a man just outside the opium den he frequented in order to rob him of watch and money and general jewelry. Since this is the case, Sorley saved your brother from being hanged, and your name from being further disgraced.”
Miss Grison’s head drooped. “Inspector Moon told me about the matter,” she admitted, “and how the watch had been traced. But I don’t believe Baldwin killed anyone. He was much too kind and thoughtful.”
“My dear lady,” said Latimer impatiently, “let me point out that no one but yourself entertains this good opinion of your late brother. According to everyone else he was a bad lot. I regret having to say this, but you must be just. If Sorley has acted wickedly—and of that we cannot be sure—your brother is not free from blame. That he murdered this man is certain, so his own violent death is simple justice.”
“I don’t believe what you say, Mr. Latimer; you are prejudiced in favor of that beast.”
“On the contrary, as Mr. Fuller will tell you, I have been hot against the man, Miss Grison. Now I have my doubts of his guilt.”
“In spite of his escape?”
“Yes It is a perplexing case, and until I can gain more evidence, I am not prepared to give an opinion. Why do you hate him so?”
The woman gave the same answer to Latimer as she had given already to Alan, detailing the circumstances which led her to become her enemy’s wife, and emphasizing his desertion. “And I kept silent for Baldwin’s sake,” she ended in a grating voice; “but he is dead, so there is no longer any reason for me to deny that I am Mrs. Sorley. Not that I shall ever take my real name, seeing how my husband has disgraced it. Now I don’t want you to make any remarks, thank you, Mr. Latimer. You can go, and you can be sure that I shall do my best to get Randolph arrested again.”