imself in his
own eyes. Things look exceedingly black against you, Sir Nigel. You can
swear to this statement as far as your part in it is concerned, Doctor
Bartholomew?"

"Absolutely," said the doctor, though plainly showing that he felt it was
no business of the supposed Mr. Headland's.

"Well, that's good. But if only there had been another witness, someone
who actually saw this thing done, or who had heard the pistol-shot--not
that I'm doubting your word at all, Doctor--it might help to elucidate
matters. There is no one you know of who could have heard--and not
spoken?"

At this juncture Borkins came quietly into the room, holding the little
revolver in his right hand, and handed it to Cleek.

"If you please, sir," he said, impassively, and with a quick look into
Merriton's grave face, "_I_ heard. And I can speak, if the jury wants me
to, I don't doubt but what my tale would be worth listenin' to, if only
to add my hevidence to the rest. That man there"--he pointed one shaking
forefinger at his master's face, and glowered into it for a moment "was
the murderer of poor Mr. Wynne!"

CHAPTER XVI

TRAPPED!

"You damned, skulking liar!"

Merriton leapt forward suddenly, and it was with difficulty that Cleek
could restrain him from seizing the butler round the throat.

"Gently, gently, my friend," interposed Cleek, as he neatly caught
Merriton's upthrown arm. "It won't help you, you know, to attack a
possible witness. We've got to hear what this man says, to know whether
he's speaking the truth or not--and we've got to go into his evidence as
clearly as we go into yours.... You're perfectly right, Doctor, I _am_ a
policeman, and I'm down here for the express purpose of investigating
this appalling affair. The expression of your face so plainly said, 'What
right has he to go meddling in another man's affairs like this?' that I
was obliged to confess the fact, for the sake of my self-respect. My
friend here, Mr. Lake, is working with me." At this he gave Borkins a
keen, searching look, and saw in the man's impassive countenance that
this was no news to him. "Now then, my man, speak out. You tell us you
heard that revolver-shot when your master fired it from his bedroom.
Where are your quarters?"

"On the other side of the 'ouse, sir," returned Borkins, flushing a
trifle. "But I was up in me dressing gown, as I'd some'ow thought that
something was amiss. I'd 'eard the quarrel that 'ad taken place betwee