“Then I ask your pardon for my manner and words. I have suffered keenly during the last three days from this cruel thought. Let us shake hands on it.”
As their hands met they both heard Mrs. Hillmer stifle a sob. Mensmore turned to her.
“Now, Gwen,” he said, “don’t be foolish. We will soon clear up this miserable business. So far as we are concerned, all we need to do is to tell the truth and fear nobody.”
“That’s it,” said White. “If you adopt that course the matter will soon be ended.”
Mensmore turned to the speaker. He guessed his identity, but Bruce introduced the detective by name.
“Well,” said Mensmore, “I have come here to answer questions. What is it you want to know?”
Mr. White glanced at the barrister, and the other explained.
“I have, as you may already realize, taken more than a passive interest in this inquiry, so the questioning largely devolves on me. First, tell me why you adopted the name of Corbett?”
“Simply enough, though stupid, I now admit. When I returned from the States I was very hard up, but managed to pick up a subsistence by writing for the sporting press, and occasionally backing horses. But I knew this could not last, so I tried to secure some financial interests in the City. In doing so I made the acquaintance of a man named Dodge, and committed myself to the underwriting of a new venture named the Springbok Mine. This fell through at the time, and with this collapse came other demands. I hate being worried by creditors, so when my sister offered to take and furnish a flat for me, near her own, I thought I would live quietly for a time and conceal my name so as to have peace there at any rate. Therefore, I assumed the name of a friend in America, little thinking that I should land both him and myself into such trouble by doing it. That is the explanation. By the way, what has happened to Corbett?”
“He is all right. He expects to see you to-night. You know Sir Charles Dyke, do you not?”