“Oh,” said Moon, while Alan and Latimer started, “so you admit having murdered your brother.”
“Yes,” said Miss Grison darkly, and throwing back her head. “I did evil that good might come of it. Listen and before you take me away policeman, I am willing to tell the truth.”
“What you say will be used in evidence against you, remember.”
“I don’t care. I have fought and lost.” She moved forward to the table and facing the men adopted quite an oratorical attitude. Beginning her story calmly enough she gradually worked herself up into a furious passion, as a sense of the wrongs she had endured came home to her. And the fact that the man who had inflicted those wrongs was now free, was not the least bitter drop in her cup of sorrow.
“Four men against one woman,” said Miss Grison scornfully, and drawing up her small figure stiffly; “five, if that brat can be called a man, instead of an ungrateful beast. How brave you all are, how very brave.”
Moon glanced at his watch. “Time presses,” he said coldly, “say what you have to say, for I must take you up to London as soon as possible.”
“Oh, I shall say my say quick enough,” cried Miss Grison savagely, “is that the way to speak to a lady, you low policeman. For I am a lady.” She flung back her head haughtily. “I always was a lady, as Baldwin always was a gentleman, bless him.”
“Yet you murdered him,” hinted Moon coldly.
“And for why?” she demanded clenching her hands, “because I wished to save him from himself and from the gallows, and from further disgracing the honored name left by our father. I tell you all that I loved Baldwin, but I knew his weakness I knew his faults, knew that unless he had some one stronger than himself to cling to, he was always dropping into the mud. Oh, the poor soul, who can blame him? Not I, though the world may, and the world did. If Sorley had treated Baldwin properly, he might have lived and died here in honor.”
“I did my best,” quavered her husband faintly, “but he drank and——”