There is a cab coming to convey you to Norwich, Mr.Slaney.
But, meanwhile, you have time to make some small reparation for the injury you have wrought.Are you aware that Mrs.Hilton Cubitt has herself lain under grave suspicion of the murder of her husband, and that it was only my presence here and the knowledge which I happened to possess which has saved her from the accusation? The least that you owe her is to make it clear to the whole world that she was in no way, directly or indirectly, responsible for his tragic end.""I ask nothing better," said the American."I guess the very best case I can make for myself is the absolute naked truth.""It is my duty to warn you that it will be used against you,"cried the inspector, with the magnificent fair-play of the British criminal law.
Slaney shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll chance that," said he."First of all, I want you gentlemen to understand that I have known this lady since she was a child.There were seven of us in a gang in Chicago, and Elsie's father was the boss of the Joint.He was a clever man, was old Patrick.It was he who invented that writing, which would pass as a child's scrawl unless you just happened to have the key to it.Well, Elsie learned some of our ways; but she couldn't stand the business, and she had a bit of honest money of her own, so she gave us all the slip and got away to London.