ossession of when the police and I searched his
effects. I went to see Burchill about the will, of course.
When I said that a will had been found he fenced with me.
He would only reply ambiguously. Eventually he asked me,
point-blank, if I would make it worth his while if he
aided me in upsetting the will. I replied that if he
could--which I doubted--I would. He told me to call at ten
o'clock that night. I did so. He then told me what I had
never suspected--that Mr. Tertius was, in reality, Arthur
John Wynne, a convicted forger. He gave me his proofs, and
I was fool enough to believe them. He then suggested that
it would be the easiest thing in the world, considering
Wynne's record, to prove that he had forged the will for
his daughter's benefit. He offered to aid in this if I
would sign documents giving him ten per cent. of the total
value of my uncle's estate, and I was foolish enough to
consent, and to sign. I solemnly declare that the entire
suggestion about upsetting the will came from Burchill,
and that there was no conspiracy between us of any sort
whatever previous to that night. Whatever may happen, I've
told this court the absolute, definite truth!"'"

Professor Cox-Raythwaite folded up the newspaper, laid it on the little
table, and brought his big hand down on his knee with an emphatic smack.

"Now, then!" he said. "In my deliberate, coldly reasoned opinion, that
statement is true! If they hang Barthorpe, they'll hang an innocent man.
But----"

CHAPTER XXVI

THE REMAND PRISON

Mr. Tertius broke the significant silence which followed. He shook his
head sadly, and sighed deeply.

"Ah, those buts!" he said. "As you remarked just now, Cox-Raythwaite,
there is always a but. Now, this particular one--what is it?"

"Let me finish my sentence," responded the Professor. "I say, I do not
believe Barthorpe to be guilty of murder, though guilty enough of a
particularly mean, dirty, and sneaking conspiracy to defraud his cousin.
Yes, innocent of murder--but it will be a stiff job to prove his
innocence. As things stand, he'll be hanged safe enough! You know what
our juries are, Tertius--evidence such as that which has been put before
the coroner and the magistrate will be quite sufficient to damn him at
the Old Bailey. Ample!"

"What do you suggest, then?" asked Mr. Tertius.

"Suggestion," answered the Professor, "is a di