"Oh, don't be angry, dear. I thank Heaven that I have a gift of humour to enable me to see these troubles in their true light. Aunt Flora has sent for my boxes, and has written to tell my father that I am to stop with her for the time being. She hinted that she could force him to allow me an income."
"How can she force him?" asked Shawe, quickly. "Does she know that he was in the Pink Shop on that night?"
"No; she did not say so, nor did I mention the subject. Besides, papa said in your rooms that although he was in the lane he did not enter the shop."
"I don't see what else you could expect him to say," replied Ralph, with a shrug. "If he was in the shop, he certainly would not incriminate himself by admitting it."
"After all, we have only Parizade's evidence regarding that scent of Harris tweed to go upon," said Audrey, thoughtfully.
"Seeing that your father is so fond of wearing that particular cloth, I must say that the evidence is very strong," retorted Ralph.
"Yet you declared that it would not stand in a court of law."
"Perhaps yes, perhaps no; it is a difficult thing to say, Audrey. However, since you now know what I wrote the anonymous letter to keep from you, there will be no further hesitation on my part in searching for the true assassin. If he proves to be your father I shan't be sorry, seeing how brutally he has behaved to you."
Audrey shook her head. "If I thought that papa was guilty I would ask you to stop searching, and to leave him to the punishment of his conscience."
"He hasn't got one, my dear," said Shawe, scoffingly. "And if he isn't guilty, who is, may I ask?"