"But the dagger! How did he obtain that?"
"No doubt at the ball. I assure you, Mr. Tait, that my wife had not the dagger when in the sitting room."
"She declares that she threatened you with it."
"Then she either forgets or speaks falsely. She wore it at the ball when I spoke to her there, but when she returned it was missing. Hilliston came with me, knowing Jeringham was with my wife. He might have picked up the dagger with the fullest intention of committing the crime. Now that I know he loved my wife I am not prepared to say how he acted in the garden while I was in the house."
"And the garnet scarfpin mentioned in the novel?"
"That belonged to Hilliston," said Larcher quickly. "I gave it to him myself. Denis picked it up in the garden, but I thought nothing of that, as I was aware Hilliston was in the grounds on that night. But now I believe——Oh, I am afraid to say what I believe. I may be wrong."
"There is one way of finding out the truth, Captain Larcher. Come up to town this week and see your wife. Then we may learn all."
The old gentleman leaned his head on his hand in deep thought for a few minutes.
"I will come," he said at length. "At whatever cost, I will force the guilty woman to own the truth."