tto by Diana, and
the absence of the stiletto itself from its usual place on the wall of
the Berwin Manor library, proved that the weapon had been removed
therefrom to London, and, presumably, used to commit the deed, seeing
that otherwise there was no necessity for its presence in the Geneva
Square mansion.

Thirdly, Diana had discovered that Lydia had spent the night of the
murder in town; and, lastly, she also declared that the fragment of
gauze found by Lucian on the dividing fence was the property of Mrs.
Vrain.

This quartette of charges was recapitulated by Diana in support of her
accusation of her stepmother.

"I always suspected Lydia as indirectly guilty," she declared in
concluding her speech for the prosecution, "but I was not certain until
now that she had actually struck the blow herself."

"But did she?" said Denzil, by no means convinced.

"I do not know what further evidence you require to prove it," retorted
Diana indignantly. "She was in town on Christmas Eve; she took the
stiletto from the library, and----"

"You can't prove that," interrupted Lucian decidedly. Then, seeing the
look of anger on Diana's face, he hastened to apologise. "Excuse me,
Miss Vrain," he said nervously. "I am not the less your friend because I
combat your arguments; but in this case it is necessary to look on both
sides of the question. Is it possible to prove that Mrs. Vrain removed
this dagger?"

"Nobody actually saw it in her possession," replied Diana, who was more
amenable to reason than the majority of her sex, "but I can prove that
the stiletto, with its ribbon, remained in the library after the
departure of my father. If Lydia did not take it, who else had occasion
to bring it up to London?"

"Let us say Count Ferruci," suggested Denzil.

Diana pointed to the fragment of the veil lying on the table. "On the
evidence of that piece of gauze," she said, "it was Lydia who entered
the house. Again, you saw her shadow on the window blind."

"I saw two shadows," corrected Lucian hastily, "those of a man and a
woman."

"In plain English, Mr. Denzil, those of Mrs. Vrain and Count Ferruci."

"We cannot be certain of that."

"But circumstantial evidence----"

"Is not always conclusive, Miss Vrain."

"Upon my word, sir, you seem inclined to defend this woman!"

"Miss Vrain," said Lucian seriously, "if we don't give her the benefit
of every doubt the jury will, should she be tried on this charge. I
admit that