"Let be," said Mrs. Berch, evidently recognizing that denial was useless: "no doubt he did see me. But I am guilty and Mrs. Crosbie is perfectly innocent."
"Then you killed the woman?" cried Gerald, appalled.
"Yes. But not intentionally. Listen. From you we learned something about this girl, and then my daughter and I were here on one occasion and knew something beforehand about the matter. We forced Major Rebb to explain, as the girl was supposed to be pretty," she cast a disdainful glance at Mavis, "and my daughter was a trifle jealous. When you, Gerald, came asking Madge to take charge of this girl I took alarm, as I thought that something serious was the matter."
"You did," said Rebb bitterly, "and you forced me to tell you the truth of how my income depended upon Mavis never getting married. But I did not expect you to kill Bellaria so as to save the income."
"I did not do so for that purpose," said Mrs. Berch steadily. "Madge and I were in despair, as only her marriage with you could save us from terrible trouble. When Gerald explained about Bellaria's fear of the coral hand I learned its purport from Signor Venosta. Then I thought that I could use it to bend Bellaria to my will."
"What was your will?" asked Tod, who looked awestruck.
"To insist that Bellaria should take Mavis to Italy and keep her there, so as to prevent her marrying. Then I knew that Major Rebb's income would be safe, and that Madge could marry and take us both out of the horrible misery we endured trying to keep up appearances on nothing."
"On nothing?" cried Haskins suddenly.
"Beyond a hundred a year, Madge and I were penniless," said Mrs. Berch coolly.
"But you lived in style," said Rebb, who seemed to be thunderstruck by these sordid revelations.