It was Major Rockley who uttered that ejaculation: and, springing forward, he had in an instant seized Morton Denville by the throat and borne him against the wall.
It was a momentary burst of fierce rage that was over directly; and, dropping his hands and stepping back, the Major stood listening as Morton went on.
“Taking advantage of the similarity of figure between himself and my unfortunate brother, he took Frederick Denville’s uniform one night for a disguise, and to cast the suspicion upon an innocent man, should he be seen, and then went to the house and killed that miserable old woman as she slept.”
“You hear this charge, Rockley?” said the Colonel.
“Yes, I hear,” was the scornful reply.
“Go on, Mr Denville: I am bound to hear you,” said the Colonel. “What reason do you give for this impossible act?”
“Poverty, sir. Losses at the gaming tables. To gain possession of Lady Teigne’s jewels.”
“Pish!” ejaculated Rockley, with his dark eyes flashing.
“Those jewels proved to be false,” continued Morton, “and at the first opportunity Major Rockley took them, in the dead of the night, and threw them from the end of the pier into the sea.”
“How do you know that?” said the Colonel.