“It looks that way, since your initials were in it,” McCarty added: “That was the final detail we had not cleared up.”
“But why, sir!” Dennis found his voice. “Why did you feel that way towards Orbit? He took in everybody else in the world!”
“I’m thinking I’ve got the answer to that, though it may sound like blarney saying it to your face, Mr. Parsons. We know who your family are and their record. ’Tis one to be proud of!”
“It is one to be thankful for,” Mr. Parsons replied modestly. “But I should like to hear your theory.”
“Well, we know who the Jessups were, too, and ’tis my opinion that the good in you for which you’re not responsible, and the evil in him which he couldn’t help, just sort of recognized each other at once and what you call your instinct warned you to get away.”
“It may be.” Mr. Parsons eyed him wonderingly. “I think you have grasped it, Mr. McCarty; the good and evil that men do live after them! I know it seemed to me that satanic vapors were rising all about me in that house and that I was in the presence of a monster! It never even occurred to me to make excuses for my conduct or send for my hat!”
“There’s just one thing that I’m curious about, though it has nothing to do with the murders. Have you missed this? It was with your papers when they came into our hands.” He produced the silver leaf and Parsons’ face lighted up.
“Ah, that is the bookmark I slipped between the pages of my encyclopædia! I told you that a leaf was torn from it! I am glad, indeed, to regain this, for it is a souvenir from a dear friend, an English army officer then stationed in South Africa—”
“It comes from Table Mountain, don’t it, off of a silver tree?” McCarty smiled also as he rose. “Mr. Parsons, we’ll be keeping you no longer. The trouble’s been laid for all time here in the Mall, I’m thinking, and there’ll be no more evil come out of that house over the way.”
“And you three have brought peace to us again in a miraculous manner!” Mr. Parsons held out his hand. “Without you and the providence which led you to the truth I shudder to think what further horrors might have been visited upon us!”