This, then, was the weapon which Joad had reserved to strike his last blow. By denouncing Scott he hoped to win a fortune; but by keeping silent for Dora's sake he thought he could force her to marry him. In either case he stood to win. With his to money, he preferred the girl to the fifty thousand pounds. It only remained for her to accept his hand, in order to save her lover from death on the . But as yet this was doubtful. Certainly the bolt had been shot; but would the bolt fall? He waited.  
With eyes and bloodless face, Dora retreated slowly . At length she reached the wall, and leant against it, overcome with feelings of terror and . Joad, his hands hanging loosely by his sides, stood looking at her, with a doubtful smile on his pale lips. Seeing that she did not speak, he repeated his in a different form. He was now calmer.
 
"Your lover is the murderer of your ," said he, watching the effect of each word.
 
Something in the of his tones brought back the courage to Dora's heart with a rush. She flushed up bravely, and stepped forward boldly. Joad did not move, and she came close to him--so close that he could feel her breath on his cheek. For a final he again.
 
"A murderer--that fine young man--your lover! Just think of it!"
 
"You lie!" She brought out the words coldly, and without the least display of passion. Knowing Scott as she did, the charge was so that she could hardly forbear from breaking into laughter. As it was, she controlled herself admirably, and merely repeated her words. "You lie, Mr. Joad," she said . "Your accusation springs from malice. You cannot your lie."
 
Without wasting time in asseverations, Joad simply raised his finger to emphasize his words. He related without the grounds upon which he based his accusation.
 
"Listen," he said, in his rich, deep voice; "you remember that day on which you brought Scott to see Julian. Very good. As you know, they had a serious quarrel. You heard yourself that Julian called out for protection. Scott wished to kill him at that moment."
 
"But why--why?" she , making a vague gesture with her hand.
 
"Ah! you ask me more than I can tell. I was not present during the conversation, you know. However, I can guess what took place. I refuse to tell all, but this much I dare speak. Julian cast certain reflections on the dead parents of Scott; he mentioned something which took place twenty and more years ago."
 
"At Christchurch?" she murmured.
 
He looked surprised.
 
"I don't know who told you so much," he said brusquely, "but I admit that your information is correct. At Christchurch, Miss Carew, an episode took place which was not creditable to Dr. Scott's parents."
 
"Had the episode to do with Mr. Edermont?"
 
"I cannot tell you. I am speaking of my grounds for suspecting your lover. What passed before matters nothing. Suffice it for you to understand that Julian quarrelled with Scott, and he was afraid lest the young man should murder him. You heard his cry for help."
 
"Well?" said Dora, seeing that he paused.
 
"Well," replied Joad, with a smile, "he did murder him."
 
"No; I do not believe it. Where are your proofs?"
 
Joad an imperious glance at her shrinking form.
 
"I am about to produce my proofs," he declared calmly. "On the night of the second of August I left here at nine o'clock. You assisted Julian to lock the gates behind me, if I remember. I went to my cottage and had my supper. Afterwards I waited for Mr. Pride, who had promised to look in on his return from Canterbury. Ten o'clock, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock struck, and still Pride did not come. I thought that he had arranged to stay all night in Canterbury, but shortly after twelve I went out on to the road to see if he was coming. I did not see him; I did see Dr. Scott."
 
"Allen?" cried Dora disbelievingly.
 
"Himself. He was coming down the road on a bicycle."
 
"How could you recognise him in the dark?"
 
"The moon was up. I recognised him in the moonlight."
 
"Did he see you?"
 
"No; I was in the shadow. I was astonished to see him near the Red House at midnight, and I watched him. He passed the gates, and got off his bicycle at the end of the wall. Then he turned down the side path which leads to the postern gate. I waited to see if he would return, but as he did not I was about to follow him, when Pride arrived. to say anything about what I had seen, lest it should compromise your lover, I took Pride into my house, and there I got talking to him till after two o'clock. In the interest of our conversation, I quite forgot Scott and his visit. But the next morning"--he looked at her in a way--"I heard of the murder, and I found the postern gate open."
 
"And--and what inference do you draw from all this?" murmured Dora, with white lips.
 
"I infer that Scott called to see Julian with reference to their previous quarrel, perhaps to demand proofs as to the episode of Christchurch. I believe that he climbed the wall and entered the house through the glass door of the drawing-room, which Julian had not locked. I have no doubt that he found Julian in his study, that Julian told him the story of the episode was locked up in the bureau. No doubt Scott insisted upon having the papers which revealed the of his parents placed in his hands. Julian would naturally refuse. Then the quarrel would recommence, and the end of it would be--well," added Joad, with a , "you know the rest. Julian was killed, and the bureau robbed of that paper. What further proof can you desire that Dr. Scott murdered your guardian?"
 
Dora heard this story with a feeling in her throat. She felt as though a net were being thrown round Allen, as though he would be in its . It was true that he had returned from London on the night of the murder; but she could not understand why he should have visited the Red House at midnight. Then she remembered that Allen had gone to town on business connected with that terrible conversation with Edermont. What if he had learnt that Edermont had spoken the truth regarding the dishonour of his parents, and had returned to revenge himself on the old man? These thoughts occurred to her with lightning rapidity; but in the end they all gave place to one. She must save him at any cost; to do so she must close Joad's mouth.
 
"Why did you not speak of this before?" she asked in a trembling voice.
 ............