“My brother?” she stammered.
“Yes; he feels, and I agree with him, that the time has come for a full explanation.”
She lifted her head proudly. “There is nothing shameful or underhand.”
“I know that,” said Collins quietly, “but I have Superintendent Sinclair here, an old friend of mine from Scotland Yard, and he would like to hear the whole thing.”
“Scotland Yard?” she said. “He has not⸺?”
“Arrested him. Oh, no, there’s nothing of that sort.”
A figure came from the car.
“It’s all right, Mabel, don’t be frightened. We’ve made fools of ourselves with all this secrecy, and we’ll have all the cards on the table now. Let’s get out of this wet.”
Sinclair advanced and shook hands with Mabel. He had met her, of course, in London, at the time of the Inquest, but could hardly claim acquaintance.
In the hall they were met by Allery and Eric Sanders.