'There is one man on the island who might have done it, and that man has had every opportunity.'
'Who is that?'
'Do you know a lad called Andrew MacPeters? He works for the MacAlisters sometimes.'
'I know him,' said Reggie, who had been listening but saying little. 'A red-headed man with foxy eyes.'
'The same,' said Euan. 'He is always in and out of the house; and most likely he was there that night and saw everything that went on. He has always hated Neil since he was a lad, and got a beating from Neil, who was much smaller than himself. He would only be too pleased to do him an ill turn. It shows a nasty, mean disposition that he should have taken the trouble to break open the box and throw the letters all about the shop when he only had to open it and take out what he wanted. Keep a look-out on that man, young ladies and gentlemen, if you want to find out what is at the bottom of the whole affair.'
'We will,' they all said.
'And if you could find out anything before the case comes up,' said Euan, 'you might be the means of saving the lad and his mother too; for she will be heart-broken if her son is not cleared, and that quickly.'
'We'll do all we can,' said Marjorie.
'Yes,' said Allan slowly and deliberately; 'I vote we all make up our minds not to rest until we find out who did it and get Neil cleared.'
'We will, we will,' cried all the others in a chorus.