body to answer my ring."

"My man is out. You had better come upstairs to my rooms."

He led the way to the lift at the end of the corridor. When they reached
the rooms Colwyn switched on the electric light. Nepcote dropped wearily
into a chair, and for the first time Colwyn was able to see his face
clearly.

He looked very ill: there could be no doubt of that. His face was
haggard and unshaven, his clothing was soiled, his attitude one of utter
dejection. He crouched in the chair breathing hurriedly, with one hand
pressed to his right side, as though in pain. Occasionally he coughed: a
short, high-pitched cough, which made him wince.

"You had better drink this before you talk," Colwyn said.

He handed him a glass of brandy and water. Nepcote seized it eagerly and
gulped it down.

"I've caught a bad chill," he said in a hoarse unnatural voice. "I
couldn't carry on any longer. That's why I came to see you to-night. But
I'd given up hopes. I was ringing for some time."

"You came to surrender yourself?"

"Yes; I am fed up--absolutely. I was a fool to bolt. I've had a horrible
time, sleeping out of doors and in verminous lodging-houses, with the
police after me at every turn. I stuck it as long as I could, but to-day
I was ill, and when I saw a policeman watching the lodging-house where I
meant to sleep to-night I felt that I had to give in."

"Why have you come to me instead of going to the police?"

"I thought I would get more consideration from you. I know you are
searching for Mrs. Heredith's necklace. Here it is."

He drew from his pocket a small parcel wrapped in dirty tissue paper,
and put it on the table. The untidy folds fell apart, exposing the
missing necklace, but the diamond was missing from the antique clasp.

"The diamond is in that," he said, placing a small cardboard box beside
the pearls. "I wish I had never seen the cursed thing."

"How do you come to have Mrs. Heredith's necklace?"

Nepcote hesitated before replying.

"I was terribly upset by Mrs. Heredith's death," he said at length. "I
knew her before she married Phil Heredith. We were old friends."

The inconsequence of this statement convinced Colwyn that he was seeking
time to frame an evasive answer.

"If that is all you have to say it is useless to prolong this
interview," he coldly remarked.

"I--I am going to tell you where I got the necklace," Nepcote said, with
downcast eyes. "Mrs. Heredith gave it to me."

"Why did Mr