Larcher poured himself out a glass of wine and drank it slowly. Then he lighted his pipe and returned to his chair with a new idea in his head.
"I wonder why Hilliston told that lie about the scarfpin, Tait?"
"Ask me something easier. I cannot say. We'll learn nothing from him. My dear fellow, it is no use asking further questions of your guardian or of your mother. We have found out all from them that we can. Nothing now remains but to see Jenny Paynton."
"Quite right. And we go to Thorston to-morrow?"
"By the ordinary train. I have written for the dogcart to meet us. By this time next week we may know a great deal—we may know the truth."
"That is, if Hilliston doesn't thwart us. He is going down to Eastbourne, remember."
"I know. But I intend to get what the Americans call the 'inside running,' by seeing Jenny to-morrow evening. The whole case turns on her explanation of the scarfpin episode.
"Well," said Claude, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, "we found Linton through his book, we found Jenny through Linton. Through her we may find Denis Bantry."
"And through Denis Bantry we may find the man who killed your father," finished Tait triumphantly.
"Well, I know what the name of the man will be."