"No; he has postponed the confession for a week."
"What foolish weakness," muttered Anne, with a sigh. "I wish he had told you this morning."
"Do you? Why?"
"Because you may find out that which he wished to hide before he can brace his mind to a confession. I love Edward Hersham dearly, Mr. Fanks; but I can see his faults and weakness of character as plainly as you can. I entreated him to tell you all at once. He consented; yet you see when it comes to the point his feebleness makes him shrink from the ordeal."
"You hint at danger to Hersham. May I ask if it is connected with the committal of this crime?
"No, you may not, Mr. Fanks. Edward can tell you the truth for himself in a week; he is foolish but he is not guilty."
Fanks was at once piqued and delighted with this woman. She was so clever and so inscrutable that he could not help respecting her. For the first time for many days he had met with a woman with the mind of a man; and he felt that he would need all his intelligence to beat her. On the other hand, he was not unprepared to expect defeat in place of victory.
"What would you say, Miss Colmer, if I told you that I had found the assassin of Sir Gregory?" he asked, craftily.
"I should at once congratulate you, and doubt you," was the quick response. "No, Mr. Fanks, you are not yet successful, else you would not come to see me, nor would you be astonished at seeing the photograph of Mrs. Boazoph."
"You know her, it seems?"