"No. Donaldson testified I'd had a revolver."
"Well, that's how we figure he'd got the gun. She thought at once that
Lucas and you had quarreled, and that he was going to shoot. She tried
to take it from him, but he was drunk and stubborn. It went off and
killed him."
Bassett leaned forward.
"That's straight, is it?"
"I'm telling you."
"Then why in God's name didn't she say that at the inquest?"
"She was afraid it wouldn't be believed. Look at the facts. She'd
quarreled with Lucas. There had been a notorious situation with regard
to Clark. And remember this. She had done it. I know her well enough,
however, to say that she would have confessed, eventually, but Clark
had beaten it. It was reasonably sure that he was lost in the blizzard.
You've got to allow for that."
Bassett said nothing. After a silence Dick spoke: "What about the revolver?"
"She had it in her hand. She dropped it and stood still, too stunned to
scream. Lucas, she says, took a step or two forward, and fell through
the doorway. Donaldson came running in, and you know the rest."
Bassett was the first to break the silence.
"She will be willing to testify to that now, of course?"
"And stand trial?"
"Not necessarily. Clark would be on trial. He's been indicted. He has to
be tried."
"Why does he have to be tried? He's free now. He's been free for ten
years. And I tell you as an honest opinion that the thing would kill
her. Accident and all, she did it. And there would be some who'd never
believe she hadn't tired of Lucas, and wanted the Clark money."
"That's a chance she'll have to take," Bassett said doggedly. "The only
living witness who could be called would be the valet. And remember
this: for ten years he has believed that she did it. He'll have built up
a story by this time, perhaps unconsciously, that might damn her."
Dick moved.
"There's only one thing to do. You're right, Gregory. I'll never expose
her to that."
"You're crazy," Bassett said angrily.
"Not at all. I told you I wouldn't hide behind a woman. As a matter of
fact, I've learned what I wanted. Lucas wasn't murdered. I didn't shoot
him. That's what really matters. I'm no worse off than I was before;
considerably better, in fact. And I don't see what's to be gained by
going any further."