"But why did you search him?" asked Clarice, perplexed.
Osip raised himself angrily on his elbow. "You will pretend ignorance," he said, sharply, "when you know quite well that Frank Clarke gave Jerce the gold box containing the stamp. I searched Jerce to find it, and he had not got it on him. I did not know what had become of it, but now I am certain that he gave the stamp to you, so that you might impress the Purple Fern on Horran's forehead, and so make the police believe your murder was of a piece with the other crimes."
"You are quite wrong," said Clarice, keeping her nerves in a wonderful manner, considering the terrible communication. "The gold box was found on the terrace, where you had dropped it."
"I did not drop it. Jerce must have guessed why I was searching him, and have flung it aside. Where is the gold box now?"
"Jerce took it to Scotland Yard."
"A clever and daring villain," said Osip, bitterly, "and the stamp?"
"I--I don't know where it is. It was not in the box?"
"No. Jerce had removed it previously, and had given it to you. What a fool he was to carry the box about with him. When did he give the stamp to you?"
"He never did."
"What's the use of denying things?" cried Osip, angrily, and striking with his clenched fist on the table. "You were seen in Horran's bedroom, after two o'clock in the morning, impressing the Purple Fern on the body of your victim; and that was after Clarke had fled, Mr. Baird. I expect just as you killed Horran you heard Clarke coming, and so concealed yourself. When the parson went away, afraid lest he should be accused, you, no doubt, came out from your hiding-place and stamped the forehead. Then you returned to your own room, and pretended innocence."