“What do you mean?”
“I mean what you know very well—your letter which you wrote to Frederick, inclosing your forged check.”
“I never forged a check, and I never wrote a letter inclosing one!” cried Sir Lionel. “Dalton forged that letter himself, if there is such a letter. He was an accomplished forger, and has suffered for it.”
“The letter is your own,” said Lady Dudleigh, “and I can swear to it.”
“No one will believe you,” cried Sir Lionel. “You shall be arrested for perjury.”
Lady Dudleigh gave another grim smile, and then she added, “There is that Maltese cross. You forget that.”
“What Maltese cross?” said Sir Lionel. “I never had one. That wasn't mine; it was Dalton's.”
“But I can swear in a court of law,” said Lady Dudleigh, “that this Maltese cross was yours, and that it was given to you by me as a birthday gift.”
“No one will believe you!” cried Sir Lionel; “no one will believe you!”
“Why not? Will they refuse the oath of Lady Dudleigh?”