"Yes," he said with bitterness, "I saw that. When I called at the house on that day a week or so ago, you avoided me. You have hardly replied to my letters save in the coldest way. You suspect me----"
"No," answered Laura quickly; "I do not, though I have cause to."
Arnold looked at her keenly. "What do you mean?" he asked quietly.
"Surely you remember the appointment you made with me?"
"What appointment?" he said, still eyeing her, and the colour again ebbing from his face.
"For the night of the 24th July at half-past nine--on the very night that poor creature was killed."
"Laura!" his voice was firmer now, and his looks expressed amazement; "it was you who made the appointment. You sent me----"
"Wait, Arnold. One thing at a time. There is something terrible and mysterious about this. I suspect pitfalls and snares likely to bring us into danger. I say, and I can prove it, that you made the appointment. I have your letter in my pocket asking me to meet you at half-past nine on that night. I would have destroyed it so as to put away all evidence of your having been at Ajax Villa on that night, but I kept it, as I wished to show it to you, and to ask how you came to gain possession of Walter's latch-key!"
"You sent it to me!" he said, much astonished. "I have your letter also. The key was lost."
"You dropped it in the road when you spoke to the policeman?"