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to prove Mr. Davenant's innocence. I know he ran away and hid himself; but after all, that's a thing an innocent man may easily do if he's afraid of being charged with murder."

"I was saying the same thing to my friends only this afternoon."

"Mr. Reeves, you're wonderful! And, of course, you've got to remember this. Mr. Davenant is⁠—he's still in love with me. And, you see, he must have known that if he were charged with the murder, my name was likely to get dragged into the thing. So it wasn't only for his own sake that he tried to get away."

"Well, I'll do my best. But you can't throw any light on the whole thing yourself, except for what you've said? You didn't, I mean, see Brother⁠—see your husband or Davenant after you heard about the bankruptcy?"

"Yes, I think I ought to tell you this. Mr. Davenant heard of the bankruptcy⁠—or the strong probability of it⁠—beforehand, and wrote to warn me. So I went up to London to see Mr. Davenant, and came back that same afternoon. He wanted to take me back to Binver on the earlier train, but I wouldn't let him⁠—I didn't want to be seen travelling with him. The result was that he travelled on that fatal train with my husband, and so drew on himself the suspicion of murder. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for that."

"Did Davenant hint to you at all that he meant to see Brotherhood about it?"