She sat facing me on the settee, her hands locked in her lap, and:
"Do you refer to any new act of his," I asked, "with which I am not at present acquainted?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes," she said; "but I can only tell you in confidence, for it is something which Inspector Gatton does not know."
"Please tell me," I urged; "for you are aware that I have no other object but the clearing of Coverly in the eyes of the police and the public."
"Well," she continued, with hesitation, "last night he lodged with me a copy of a declaration which he assured me cleared him entirely. But he imposed an extraordinary condition."
"What was that?" I asked with interest.
"It was only to be used in the event of the worst happening!" she said.
"What do you mean? In the event of his being put on trial for murder?"
Isobel nodded.