"You murdered both," said Torry sternly, "and I intend to arrest you. In ten minutes you leave this room for prison."
"But I am innocent!--innocent I tell you," screamed Vass, his brow beaded with perspiration.
"I--I--I can--I can explain."
In a moment Torry whipped out the locket, and held it out on the palm of his hand. "Then explain that."
"Ah!" murmured Vass, falling back in his chair, "I am lost."
"I thought so; you confess your guilt."
The accusation seemed to galvanise the wretched creature into life. "Confess, confess!" he shrieked.
"No, no! I am innocent! I swear it."
"You'd swear anything to save your neck," said Torry coolly. "Come, sir, I am tired of this, let me put the darbies on."
As in a dream Vass sat limply in his chair while Torry approached with the handcuffs. But at the first touch of the cold iron on his wrists he leaped up, and plunging past the detective fell on his knees before Frank.