ds. "Oh, why can't you
believe me."

"Because Garvington gave you the second revolver and with that--on the
evidence of the bullet--Pine was murdered."

"That might be so, but--but--" Silver hesitated, and shivered and looked
round with a hunted expression in his eyes.

"But what? You may as well explain to me."

"I shan't--I refuse to. I am innocent! You can't hurt me!"

Lambert brushed aside this puny rage. "Inspector Darby can. I shall go
to Wanbury this evening and tell him all."

"No; don't do that!" cried Garvington, greatly agitated. "Think of
me--think of the family!"

"I think of Justice! You two beasts aren't fit to be at large. I'm off,"
and he made for the door.

In a moment Silver was clutching his coat. "No, don't!" he screamed. "I
am innocent! Lord Garvington, say that I am innocent!"

"Oh, ---- you, get out of the hole as best you can! I'm in as big a mess
as you are, unless Lambert acts decently."

"Decently, you wicked little devil," said Lambert scornfully. "I only
propose to do what any decent man would do. You trapped Pine by means
of the letter, and Silver shot him."

"I didn't! I didn't!"

"You had the revolver!"

"I hadn't. I gave it away! I lent it!" panted Silver, crying with
terror.

"You lent it--you gave it--you liar! Who to?"

Silver looked round again for some way of escape, but could see none.
"To Miss Greeby. She--she--she--she shot Pine. I swear she did."

CHAPTER XIX.

MOTHER COCKLESHELL.

It was late in the afternoon when Lambert got back to the village inn,
and he felt both tired and bewildered. The examination of Silver had
been so long, and what he revealed so amazing, that the young man wished
to be alone, both to rest and to think over the situation. It was a very
perplexing one, as he plainly saw, since, in the light of the new
revelations, it seemed almost impossible to preserve the name of the
family from disgrace. Seated in his sitting room, with his legs
stretched out and his hands in his pockets, Lambert moodily glared at
the carpet, recalling all that had been confessed by the foxy secretary
of Miss Greeby. That he should accuse her of committing the crime seemed
unreasonable.

According to Silver, the woman had overheard by chance the scheme to
lure Pine to The Manor. Knowing that the millionaire was coming to
Abbot's Wood, the secretary had propounded the plan to Garvington long
before the man's arrival. Hence the constant talk of the ho