Sir Rupert gave a stifled cry, and staggered back against the desk, while Ellersby looked at him with a smile of triumph. The three listeners in the other room were standing close to the door, with greedy ears drinking in every word of this strange conversation.
The baronet with an effort recovered himself and, turning to the desk, touched the secret spring and took down the carving. There lay the locket, the chain, and the fatal arrow.
"There is the locket you wrenched off your wife's neck on that night," said Ellersby, pitilessly, "and there is the poisoned arrow-head with which you committed the crime!"
Balscombe took out the objects and looked at them vacantly.
"What devilry is this?" he said, fiercely. "This is the locket I know--the locket that contains your hair and your picture, curse you! But the arrow-head--I know nothing of that."
"Bah!--who would believe you?" replied the other, mockingly; "it is in your secret drawer!"
"How did you know this hiding-place?" demanded Balscombe.
"I never said I knew it."
"No--but you said your evidence was in there, so you must have seen these things before. I believe you put the arrow-head there yourself."
"Did I, indeed?" said Ellersby with a sneer. "Where would I get the arrow-head?--don't blame me for a crime you committed yourself."