"But," said Winnie, eagerly, "it shows Murtagh couldn't have set fire to the place, because we were very sorry after, and Murtagh was to have told Mr. Plunkett so this morning."
"Were you, Murtagh?" said Mr. Blair.
"Yes," said Murtagh, shortly.
Mr. Blair looked towards Mr. Plunkett to see what he thought of that, and Mr. Plunkett replied drily:
"Murtagh has never done such a thing in his life. I must be excused if I do not believe him."
The angry black look that Nessa had so often seen spread over Murtagh's countenance. He made no answer, but Nessa said at once, "I know he was going to do that."
Her words seemed to strengthen a pleasant conviction that was growing in Mr. Blair's mind, the sound of her voice brought a quiet little smile to his lips which did not altogether die away again.
Mr. Plunkett replied in the same dry tones, "The main point of evidence against Murtagh is the fact that Mrs. Plunkett saw him at the time of the fire."
"You are quite sure that it was Murtagh?" asked Mr. Blair, turning to Mrs. Plunkett.
"I'm quite sure," she replied. "I saw his black hair and his gray jacket as plain as I do now."