"Yes, yes; the man who was with her on that night. The man who killed Grent."
"But his name--his name?"
"Look at the initials, G.V.--Gustavus Vass. He is the murderer!"
CHAPTER XXIII
[A CONFESSION]
Here was a discovery. Of all men Torry had least suspected Vass, as he had doubted the courage and nerve of so effeminate a creature. Yet if according to the evidence of the locket, he was the lover of Julia Brawn; and if he had followed her out of jealousy on that fatal night, there was no doubt that he had killed Grent. Torry explained all this to Darrel, as that young gentleman was dressing.
"If this, if that, if the other thing," said Frank doubtfully; "much virtue in if, as Shakspere says. Admitting that Vass was Julia's lover--which certainly seems probable, judging from the initials on the locket--you cannot prove that he was with Julia on that night. She alone could give evidence, and she is dead."
Torry nodded. "I admit there are links wanting," he said; "but as I am absolutely certain that Vass is the man we want, it only remains to force a confession out of him by sheer terror."
"How can you do that?"
The detective smiled meaningly, and from his breast-pocket produced a warrant against Vass.