ged; his
expression of almost sneering contempt was transformed to one clearly
resembling abject terror; he dropped his pipe, fell back in his chair,
recovered himself, gripped the chair's arms, and stared at Spargo as if
the young man had suddenly announced to him that in another minute he
must be led to instant execution. And Spargo, quick to see his
advantage, followed it up.

"That is what I know, Mr. Elphick, and if I choose, all the world shall
know it tomorrow morning!" he said firmly. "Ronald Breton is the son of
the murdered man, and Ronald Breton is engaged to be married to the
daughter of the man charged with the murder. Do you hear that? It is
not matter of suspicion, or of idea, or of conjecture, it is
fact--fact!"

Mr. Elphick slowly turned his face to Miss Baylis. He gasped out a few
words.

"You--did--not--tell--me--this!"

Then Spargo, turning to the woman, saw that she, too, was white to the
lips and as frightened as the man.

"I--didn't know!" she muttered. "He didn't tell me. He only told me
this morning what--what I've told you."

Spargo picked up his hat.

"Good-night, Mr. Elphick," he said.

But before he could reach the door the old barrister had leapt from his
chair and seized him with trembling hands. Spargo turned and looked at
him. He knew then that for some reason or other he had given Mr.
Septimus Elphick a thoroughly bad fright.

"Well?" he growled.

"My dear young gentleman!" implored Mr. Elphick. "Don't go! I'll--I'll
do anything for you if you won't go away to print that. I'll--I'll give
you a thousand pounds!"

Spargo shook him off.

"That's enough!" he snarled. "Now, I am off! What, you'd try to bribe
me?"

Mr. Elphick wrung his hands.

"I didn't mean that--indeed I didn't!" he almost wailed. "I--I don't
know what I meant. Stay, young gentleman, stay a little, and let
us--let us talk. Let me have a word with you--as many words as you
please. I implore you!"

Spargo made a fine pretence of hesitation.

"If I stay," he said, at last, "it will only be on the strict condition
that you answer--and answer truly--whatever questions I like to ask
you. Otherwise----"

He made another move to the door, and again Mr. Elphick laid beseeching
hands on him.

"Stay!" he said. "I'll answer anything you like!"

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

OF PROVED IDENTITY

Spargo sat down again in the chair which he had just left, and looked
at the two people upon whom his startling