"It is the fact, is it not, that a man named Gumley is lying under sentence of death in Sunbridge jail as being the supposed murderer of the first Mrs. Drelincourt?"
"The fact is as you state it. But why do you say as being the 'supposed' murderer of Mrs. Drelincourt?"
"Because I am in a position to prove that the man in question had nothing whatever to do with the crime for which he has been convicted, and it is with the view of laying my evidence to that effect before Mr. Drelincourt that I am now on my way to Fairlawn."
For a little while sheer amazement held Rodd speechless. But presently came a question which, under the circumstances, was almost inevitable: "You have indeed surprised me, Mrs. Jenwyn; but if you are in a position to prove Gumley's innocence, you are, perhaps, equally in a position to bring the real criminal's guilt home to him?"
"I am."
Again Rodd's thoughts held him silent for a little while. Then he said tentatively: "Mr. Drelincourt----" and then he was silent.
"What of him?"
"You say that you are on your road to see him about this very matter of Gumley's?"
"That is so."
"Then you do not know, you cannot have heard, that this very afternoon, In order to save Gumley's life, Mr. Drelincourt gave himself up as the murderer of his wife!"