oy, Henfrey, went there to
demand of Mademoiselle how his father died. She refused to tell him,
angry words arose--and he shot her. Now, isn't that your theory--the
same as that held by the police?"

The old man looked straight into his visitor's face for a few moments.
Then he replied quite calmly:

"I know nothing, Signor Benton--and I don't want to know anything. I've
told the police all I know. Indeed, when they began to inquire into my
antecedents I was not very reassured, I can tell you."

"I should think not," laughed Benton. "Still, they never suspected you
to be the man wanted for the Morel affair--an unfortunate matter that
was."

"Yes," sighed the old fellow. "Please do not mention it," and he turned
away to the window as though to conceal his guilty countenance.

"You mean that you _know_ something--but you won't tell it!" Benton
said.

"I know nothing," was the old fellow's stubborn reply.

"But you know that the young fellow, Henfrey, is guilty!" exclaimed
Benton. "Come! you were there at the time! You heard high words between
them--didn't you?"

"I have already made my statement to the police," declared the old
Italian. "What else I know I shall keep to myself."

"But I'm interested in ascertaining whether Henfrey is innocent or
guilty. Only two persons can tell us that--Mademoiselle, who is, alas!
in a hopeless mental state, and yourself. You know--but you refuse to
incriminate the guilty person. Why don't you tell the truth? You know
that Henfrey shot her!"

"I tell you I know nothing," retorted the old man. "Why do you come here
and disturb me?" he added peevishly.

"Because I want to know the truth," Benton answered. "And I mean to!"

"Go away!" snapped the wilful old fellow. "I've done with you all--all
the crowd of you!"

"Ah!" laughed Benton. "Then you forget the little matter of the man
Morel--eh? That is not forgotten by the police, remember!"

"And if you said a word to them, Signor Benton, then you would implicate
yourself," the old man growled. Seeing hostility in the Englishman's
attitude he instantly resented it.

"Probably. But as I have no intention of giving you away, my dear
Giulio, I do not think we need discuss it. What I am anxious to do is to
establish the guilt--or the innocence--of Hugh Henfrey," he went on.

"No doubt. You have reason for establishing his guilt--eh?"

"No. Reasons for establishing his innocence."

"For your own ends, Signor Benton," was the