"You are! You stole his watch and money because you thought to make his murder appear a common one. And so it was! You slew him because you feared he would dispossess your master of what he unrighteously held, because you thought that you would lose your place."
"Again I say it is false! I had no thought of self! I killed him--yes, I!--because I loved my friend, my master as you term him, because he threatened to come between him and the woman he loved. Had I known of Walter Cundall's noble nature, as I knew of it afterwards, no power on earth could have induced me to do such a deed."
"It is infamy for such as you to speak of his nobility--but enough! Are you armed to-night, as you were on that night?"
"I have no arms about me. Why do you ask?"
"To tell you that no arms can avail you now. You must come with me."
"To where?"
"To the village prison at St. Christoph. There I will leave you until you can be taken to England."
For the first time since he had seen the avenger of Walter Cundall standing before him, Smerdon smiled bitterly.
"Señor Guffanta," he said, "you are very big and strong--it may well be stronger than I am. But you overrate your strength strangely if you think that any power you possess can make me go with you. I am a murderer--God help and pardon me! It is probable I shall be a double one before this night is over."
"You threaten me--you! You defy me!" Guffanta exclaimed, while his dark eyes gleamed ominously.