"Why did you do that?"
"I thought he was a detective, and that Sir Simon intended to arrest me at once. I ran away and went home. That is all I know."
Durham was disappointed. "But you surely know who killed——"
"No," interrupted Michael. "I suspected Beryl. I think he killed him, but I am not sure. Next day, when the murder was proclaimed, and it was said Bernard was drowned, Beryl came to me, and told me to lie quiet in case I should be arrested for the crime. He then took all my money by threatening to have me arrested as the murderer."
"But if you had told this story, and used Tolomeo as a witness——"
"Tolomeo? who is he? I know no one of that name."
"He was the man you took for a detective."
"Well, then, not knowing who he really was, how could I have cleared myself? Beryl could have accused me."
"Tolomeo could have cleared you. He was with Sir Simon when you left, and Sir Simon was alive. What happened then?"
"I lay quiet. Then I grew afraid, and hid myself in different places. Beryl found me out, and persuaded me to come here to personate Bernard, and make a will. He promised me that I should get half the money. I intended to vanish when I made the will, and then Beryl arranged to get the money somehow——"