"But why did he put the clock wrong?" asked Audrey, bewildered.
"Badoura supplies the answer to that question, my dear," said Ralph, grimly. "He wished to provide an alibi. Badoura and Madame Coralie could both swear that he was in the still-room at eight o'clock, when it was really five-and-twenty minutes past eight. He had all that time--seeing that, according to the medical evidence, your mother was murdered at or about eight--to commit the crime. Yes, Eddy Vail may be guilty."
"Then my father is innocent, and was not in the Pink Shop."
"Of course. And going by the evidence of the clock, when Mrs. Mellop saw your father in Walpole Lane your mother had already been dead for some twenty minutes, more or less. Of course"--Ralph looked thoughtful--"he may have killed her, and then have slipped round by the court--the key was in the outer door, remember--to Walpole Lane, guessing that you would call there, and thus he could provide himself with a very good alibi. Did he know that you were going to call for your mother?"
"Yes. I told him when I got home. But I really can't think that he is guilty, Ralph, especially as Badoura accuses Eddy Vail."
"But why should Eddy kill your mother?"
"Because of the diamonds."
"Madame Coralie said that her sister had given those to her. If that is a lie, it makes out Madame Coralie to be an accomplice after the fact. She must have known that her husband had murdered Lady Branwin."
"Oh, dear, it is impossible Aunt Flora can be guilty. She is so good."
Ralph had his own idea of Madame Coralie's goodness; but it was no use communicating the same to the girl, seeing how kind her aunt had been to her. He thought for a few moments, then raised his head.