"It is true. And it was arranged when we found that the woman was dead that I should engage you as a detective so that you might be able to manipulate the case at your will. Owing to the change which Mrs. Brand made in her will, Calvert stood in my way and in yours. It was then that you proposed to fix the guilt of the murder on him."
"And had I not overslept myself," said Calvert, his eyes on Jasher, "I should have fallen into your trap."
"Let me out of this," said the detected scoundrel, and made a dash for the door. He was met by Tracey, revolver in hand. With an oath he slipped round his hand for his own weapon.
"Hold up your hands or I shoot!" said the Yankee. "Now get back to your seat and tell the truth if it's in you."
Sullenly and with all his surface good-nature gone, Jasher, with his hands held over his head, sat down. "It's a lie--a lie!" he said vehemently, finding his voice in the extremity of his danger. "Bocaros lured the woman to the villa. I came later--a few minutes after ten. I was admitted by him."
"That's a lie!" said Bocaros. "You told me you let yourself in with the key of Mrs. Brand."
"I didn't. I was not at the villa till after ten--the woman was killed before. I found you standing by the dead body. You killed her."
"I did not. From the fact that you had the key to enter, I guessed you must have seen Mrs. Brand earlier. You met her, I swear--not I. It was you who stabbed her, and with the dagger which she brought with her to threaten Fane. You arranged all these plans so that you could lay the blame on others. If I did not pay up, you arranged--as you told me--to hunt me down in your character of detective. It was you who killed the woman to get control of the money."
Jasher had kept his eyes steadily on the face of the professor. When the man finished, he flung up his hands with a wild cry and pointed to the window. "Look! Look! A face!" he shrieked.
The others involuntarily turned. In a moment Jasher whipped out his revolver and dashed out of the door. As he passed Bocaros he fired, and the Greek fell to the floor. "Judas! Judas!" cried the other man, and fled into the darkness.