"I agree as to the first two," said Haken, perfectly calm, "but I am sure that the last-named will not harm me in any way."
Prelice reflected. "You are right," he said thoughtfully. "Horace is your friend and mine. But the others——"
"Yes. I know all about the others," interrupted Haken in a level voice. "They have their own fish to fry, and are not particular how big a blaze they make to fry them. Of course, I expected you would find out."
"Did you? And why?"
"Why," Haken pushed back his chair, and rose with a chuckle, "didn't Sophia inveigle you into helping young Shepworth and the girl he was engaged to? You could scarcely do that and not cross my trail."
"Why didn't you confess to me?" asked Prelice, much vexed.
"Confess what? That I murdered Lanwin?"
"And that you stabbed Agstone."
"The deuce." Haken started at this last remark. "They accuse me of that, do they? I didn't know that they would go so far. Well," he looked very straightly at his nephew, and with very bright eyes, "you have no doubt heard what these people have had to say, and no doubt they have manufactured good fiction out of certain facts. My character, I take it, is as black as a crow."
"Blacker, if anything."