"It may be, sir. You see, this Lydia Hargone is the woman who called at Grent's chambers on that Saturday."
"Are you sure?" said Frank, somewhat startled.
"As sure as one can be, in this world of mistakes," replied Torry drily. "At all events, she wears on the third finger of her right hand a silver ring set with three turquoise stones, Meek noticed that ring as worn by the veiled lady who visited Grent. At first, owing to the confused manner of Donna Maria, I fancied she might be the individual. However I was wrong. The evidence of the ring assures me that Lydia Hargone paid that visit. Why?"
"There is nothing peculiar in her paying a visit to her employer."
"Grent was not her employer then. She had left his service some time. Now, Donna Maria is----"
"I won't hear a word against that lady," interrupted Darrel hotly.
"Because she is beautiful; your romance again. Well as you please; but you must admit that it was strange she should faint at the sight of the Blue Mummy."
"Vass fainted in the same way."
"I know he did, and Miss Sandoval gives the same explanation for her fainting as he did. Both of them saw the Blue Mummy on Grent's desk, and its connection with his murder came so forcibly to their memories that they fainted. Now, I said before, and I say again that the explanation is feeble and untrue."
"But surely you don't think Donna Maria guilty of the crime?"