"No doubts about that," murmured Mr. Jacobs, cheerfully. "Proved up to

the hilt. Marquess, I congratulate you--and you, too, Lord Heyton."

Now, indeed, Derrick started.

"Do you mean that I----?" he stammered, overwhelmed by the significance

of the title by which Mr. Jacobs had addressed him.

Mr. Jacobs nodded, as cheerfully as before. "Quite so," he said. "Your

father being the Marquess of Sutcombe, you are, of course, Lord Heyton."

Derrick sank on to a chair, still holding his father's hand; and he was

silent for a moment or two; then he looked up.

"This charge?" he said, almost in a whisper. "You--both of you--know

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that I am innocent?"

Mr. Jacobs nodded, and the father's hand closed tightly on his son's.

"Then," said Derrick hoarsely, "who--who is guilty?"

"Ah!" said Mr. Jacobs, with a shake of the head, his eyes fixed on the

carpet. "Very difficult to say. I'm afraid it will turn out to be one of

those undiscovered crimes with which the newspapers are always taunting

poor Scotland Yard." He rose as he spoke, and reached for his hat. "Now

I'll leave you two gentlemen together. By the way, Mr.--I beg your

pardon, Lord Heyton!--I'm afraid you'll have to remain here for another

hour or two; there are certain formalities which must be endured. For

instance"--he smiled--"I shall have to take you before a local

magistrate. Of course, we shall produce no evidence, throw any quantity

of ashes on our heads, and apologize for the cruel mistake we have made;

and the local magistrate, if he knows his business, will read me a

severe lecture on my stupidity and set you free with an apology from all

concerned. Now I'll leave you. You two gentlemen must have a great deal

to say to each other. And I beg you to believe"--he spoke with deep

feeling--"that I should not have intruded on this interview, if I had

not considered my presence necessary."

He opened the door, but closed it again, holding the handle, and said,

in a casual fashion, "By the way, I am sorry to say that Lord Heyton--tut, tut!--the

gentleman who was Lord Heyton--has been called away on important

business. I am afraid he will be away some time; in fact, I have advised

him to go on a long tour, when his business is finished. He requires

change of air, a long change; in fact, I don't think England will ever

suit him."




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