"On my honour--" began Joyce returning to his seat.
"You haven't got any. Now then, why did Santiago try to get Marsh killed?"
"He did not want to kill him. He only desired that he should be disabled and prevented from going to the vault."
Herrick whistled. "Ah, he has been looking up the will at Doctor's Commons. Well, and what does he expect to gain by the money going to Frisco? The man is in communication with him I suppose?"
"No," said Joyce sulkily, "he is in communication with me."
"The devil!" Herrick sprang to his feet. "So _you_ put that cipher in the paper, asking Frisco to meet you at Hyde Park Corner."
"Yes I did. I put in the first and the second."
"Who taught you the cipher? It was one that Colonel Carr knew."
"Santiago taught it to me."
"Ah! Now we are getting at the truth," said Herrick, "and where did you meet Santiago may I ask? No lie this time, please?"