"It sounds plausible enough," grumbled Macandrew, "and a case could easily be built up against him. But the presence of Mrs. Crosbie on the spot has to be explained."
Gerald rose and walked up and down the room, thinking. "I tell you what, Tod," he said abruptly. "I am getting tired of poking about in the dark. I believe, as you do, and Arnold does, that Mavis is entirely innocent. Hitherto we have kept her in hiding, so as to prove her innocence, since she may be arrested if she is discovered. Well then, I think it would be best to let her be arrested."
Both Arnold and Macandrew jumped up wrathfully! "What?" they exclaimed, and Tod continued: "What is the use of Charity's sacrifice if you intend to hand over Mavis to the law?"
"Tod," said Gerald seriously, "as things stand now, we are not able to force either Geary or Mrs. Crosbie or Rebb to speak. If Mavis is put on her trial they can be called as witnesses, and then the truth may come out. Also Mavis can be examined by two doctors--I shall insist upon that--when her sanity will certainly he proved beyond all doubt. If she is proved to be sane, then Rebb will find himself in Queer Street and will be hard put to it to prove his innocence."
"We could have done all this in the first case," said Arnold irritably.
"No," replied Haskins sharply, "for then we did not have the evidence to hand that we have now. Rebb, Geary, and Mrs. Crosbie are all implicated, and we may also be able to place Venosta in the witness-box. But the proof that Mavis is responsible for her acts, and has been shut up in the Pixy's House, while Rebb enjoyed her income, will gain the sympathy of everyone, and will go far to show her innocence. I shall support her throughout the case."
"She is Rebb's ward, and is under twenty-one," said Tod crossly; "so the Major may not allow you to support her."
"I propose to take her out of the Major's keeping by making her my wife forthwith," said Gerald coolly.
"But if you do, sir," cried Arnold, much upset, "Mavis will be arrested. Indeed I doubt if you will find any clergyman who will marry her to you, seeing that she is said to be a lunatic."
"That's all right," rejoined Haskins easily. "I have arranged that in my own mind. There is an old college chum of my late father's who can see both sides of the question, and I can trust him utterly. To-day I am going to London to repeat your experience and get a special license, Toddy. Our marriages are expensive matters, old boy, aren't they?"