"So he said," replied Mr. Inspector, dryly; "a very good excuse to get away from the town without suspicion."
"But I don't see why you should think Finland guilty. He assured me most solemnly that he never set eyes on Bithiah on that night."
"Oh, I dare say. But Finland is Carwell's nephew--the body was found in one of Carwell's fields--so it is not beyond the bounds of probability that Finland placed it there."
"I don't believe it," cried Brand, vigorously. "Bithiah, I believe, ran away to marry Finland, and by such marriage he could have secured both her and the pearls. Why should he kill her?"
When Korah placed the matter in this light. Inspector Chard was puzzled, and, unable to answer the question, lost his temper.
"I don't pretend to be infallible," said he, harshly, "and I may be mistaken. All the same, I believe Finland to be guilty."
"Then why don't you arrest him?"
"Because I have not sufficient evidence to enable me to get a warrant," replied the inspector, tartly, "nor do I know where the man is. However, it is my intention to find out if possible the whereabouts of those pearls for which the girl was murdered. When I learn who disposed of them, I shall be able to capture the murderer."
"He won't be Finland, sir."
"That we shall see," retorted Chard, and closed an interview in which he felt he was getting the worst of the argument.