"And yet the person who committed the murder must have been the person who stole your pistol. You, John, declare that very pistol to have been in your possession upon the morning before the murder."
"Most certainly."
"You put John's guns back into their places upon that morning, Aurora," said Mr. Bulstrode; "do you remember seeing that particular pistol?"
"No," Mrs. Mellish answered; "I should not have known it from the others."
"You did not find any of the servants in the room that morning?"
"Oh, no," Aurora answered immediately; "Mrs. Powell came into the room while I was there. She was always following me about; and I suppose she had heard me talking to——"
"Talking to whom?"
"To James Conyers's hanger-on and messenger, Stephen Hargraves—the 'Softy,' as they call him."
"You were talking to him? Then this Stephen Hargraves was in the room that morning?"
"Yes; he brought me a message from the murdered man, and took back my answer."