J. S. Fletcher

“ But, at any rate, Sir Thomas and I have just found out that Guy Markenmore and Carter were together on these downs late that night, talking confidentially. Now from what I've learned about him, Guy Markenmore was a talkative, free-and-easy sort of a man, open and candid; probably, knowing that Carter was Sir Thomas's assistant, Guy took Carter into his confidence about the secret. And Sir Thomas and I have just ascertained that Guy told Carter that he would be at or about Markenmore Hollow at a very early hour next morning. What does Carter do? ”

“ If you want to emigrate I'll find you the money. Tonight, mind, any time you like after eight o'clock."
He nudged Blick's elbow and hurried him away out of the wood before Roper could thank him, walking at a great pace until he and his companion were once more on the hill-side.
"There's a man into whose soul the iron has entered, my friend!" he said. "Poor fellow! poor fellow! I feel deeply and sincerely sorry for him. Seven years lonely brooding over his love affair—terrible!"
"I fear you have a very deep vein of sentiment, sir!" observed Blick. "I'm sorry for the chap, too ”

“ And——" he paused and gave Roper a particularly knowing look. "Anything else?" he asked.
"I ain't a-going to keep nothing back," said Roper. "There is something else. Don't 'ee forget as how I'd been keeping my feelings warm for Guy Markenmore for seven years! A man what's been wronged as I had, he don't forget easy. And when I gets to my cottage, all alone, that night, after I come in from Mitbourne, I sat a-thinking. And I did remember—'cause I hadn't forgotten!—what Guy say to that chap he was with, about being on that footpath to Mitbourne at four o'clock next morning. ”

“ But what can she want?"
"Let us make our way down," suggested the Professor. "We are evidently wanted. Hello! there are men, too!"
Two figures had just emerged from amongst the cluster of pine trees near which Valencia stood. Blick suddenly recognized them as those of Harborough and Mr. Fransemmery. They, recognizing the detective, also began signalling to him.
"There's something afoot down there!" he muttered. "Looks to me as if they'd made some discovery. Look here, sir!—that tall man is Harborough, who, as I told you, was accused of the murder by Mrs. ”