"Simple enough," he replied."Enwright - who, by the way, is now in the Tower - wanted to communicate with Fraser-Freer, who he supposed was a loyal member of the band.Letters sent by post seemed dangerous.With your kind assistance he informed the captain of his whereabouts and the date of his imminent arrival in London.
Fraser-Freer, not wanting you entangled in his plans, eliminated you by denying the existence of this cousin - the truth, of course.""Why," I asked, "did the countess call on me to demand that I alter my testimony?""Bray sent her.He had rifled Fraser-Freer's desk and he held that letter from Enwright.He was most anxious to fix the guilt upon the young lieutenant's head.You and your testimony as to the hour of the crime stood in the way.He sought to intimidate you with threats - ""But - "
"I know - you are wondering why the countess confessed to me next day.I had the woman in rather a funk.In the meshes of my rapid-fire questioning she became hopelessly involved.This was because she was suddenly terrified she realized I must have been watching her for weeks, and that perhaps Von der Herts was not so immune from suspicion as he supposed.At the proper moment Isuggested that I might have to take her to Inspector Bray.This gave her an idea.She made her fake confession to reach his side;once there, she warned him of his danger and they fled together."We walked along a moment in silence.All about us the lurid special editions of the afternoon were flaunting their predictions of the horror to come.The face of the colonel was grave.
"How long had Von der Herts held his position at the Yard?" I asked.
"For nearly five years," Hughes answered.
"It seems incredible," I murmured.
"So it does," he answered; "but it is only the first of many incredible things that this war will reveal.Two months from now we shall all have forgotten it in the face of new revelations far more unbelievable." He sighed."If these men about us realized the terrible ordeal that lies ahead! Misgoverned; unprepared - Ishudder at the thought of the sacrifices we must make, many of them in vain.But I suppose that somehow, some day, we shall muddle through."He bade me good-by in Trafalgar Square, saying that he must at once seek out the father and brother of the late captain, and tell them the news - that their kinsman was really loyal to his country.
"It will come to them as a ray of light in the dark - my news," he said."And now, thank you once again."We parted and I came back here to my lodgings.The mystery is finally solved, though in such a way it is difficult to believe that it was anything but a nightmare at any time.But solved none the less; and I should be at peace, except for one great black fact that haunts me, will not let me rest.I must tell you, dear lady - And yet I fear it means the end of everything.If only I can make you understand!
I have walked my floor, deep in thought, in puzzlement, in indecision.Now I have made up my mind.There is no other way - I must tell you the truth.
Despite the fact that Bray was Von der Herts; despite the fact that he killed himself at the discovery - despite this and that, and everything - Bray did not kill Captain Fraser-Freer!
On last Thursday evening, at a little after seven o'clock, I myself climbed the stairs, entered the captain's rooms, picked up that knife from his desk, and stabbed him just above the heart!
What provocation I was under, what stern necessity moved me - all this you must wait until to-morrow to know.I shall spend another anxious day preparing my defense, hoping that through some miracle of mercy you may forgive me - understand that there was nothing else I could do.
Do not judge, dear lady, until you know everything - until all my evidence is in your lovely hands.
YOURS, IN ALL HUMILITY.
The first few paragraphs of this the sixth and next to the last letter from the Agony Column man had brought a smile of relief to the face of the girl who read.She was decidedly glad to learn that her friend no longer languished back of those gray walls on Victoria Embankment.With excitement that increased as she went along, she followed Colonel Hughes as - in the letter - he moved nearer and nearer his denouement, until finally his finger pointed to Inspector Bray sitting guilty in his chair.This was an eminently satisfactory solution, and it served the inspector right for locking up her friend.Then, with the suddenness of a bomb from a Zeppelin, came, at the end, her strawberry man's confession of guilt.He was the murderer, after all! He admitted it! She could scarcely believe her eyes.
Yet there it was, in ink as violet as those eyes, on the note paper that had become so familiar to her during the thrilling week just past.She read it a second time, and yet a third.Her amazement gave way to anger; her cheeks flamed.Still - he had asked her not to judge until all his evidence was in.This was a reasonable request surely, and she could not in fairness refuse to grant it.
