“Because he is simply pestering Nellie with his attentions.  There!  I must speak plainly.  He has gone to extremes that can no longer be misinterpreted.  In our small community, Mr. Brett,” she explained, “though we dearly love a little gossip, we are slow to believe that a man married to such a charming if somewhat unconventional woman as Margaret Hume-Frazer—­I cannot train my tongue to call her Mrs. Capella—­would deliberately neglect his wife and dare to demonstrate his unlawful affection for another woman, especially such a girl as Helen Layton.”

“How long has this been going on?” inquired Brett, for Hume was too furious to speak.

“For some months, but it is only a fortnight ago since Helen first complained of it to me I promptly told Mr. Capella that I could not receive him again at my house.  He discovered that Nellie came here a good deal, and managed to call about the same time as she did.  Then he found that she was interested in Japanese art, and as he is really clever in that respect—­”

“Clever,” interrupted the barrister.  “Do you mean that he understands lacquer work, Satsuma ware, painting or inlaying?  Is he a connoisseur or a student?”

“It is all Greek to me!” exclaimed the old lady, “but unquestionably the bits of china and queer carvings he often brought here were very beautiful.  Nellie did not like him personally, but she could not deny his knowledge and enthusiasm.  Margaret, too, used to invite her to the Hall, for Miss Layton has great taste as an amateur gardener, Mr. Brett.  But this friendship suddenly ceased.  Mr. Capella became very strange and gloomy in his manner.  At last Nellie told me that the wretched man had dared to utter words of love to her, hinting that his wife could not live long, and that he would come in for her fortune.  Now, as my poor girl has been the most faithful soul that ever lived, never for an instant doubting that some day the cloud would lift from Davie, you may imagine what a shock this was to her.”

“Mrs. Eastham,” said Brett, suddenly switching the conversation away from the Italian’s fantasy, “you are well acquainted with all the circumstances connected with Sir Alan’s murder.  Have you formed any theory about the crime, its motive, or its possible author?”

“God forgive me if I do any man an injury, but in these last few days I have had my suspicions,” she exclaimed.

“Tell me your reasons.”

“It arose out of a chance remark by Nellie.  She was discussing with me her inexplicable antipathy to Mr. Capella, even during the time when they were outwardly good friends.  She said that once he showed her a Japanese sword, a most wonderful piece of workmanship, with veins of silver and gold let into the handle and part of the blade.  To the upper part of the scabbard was attached a knife—­a small dagger—­similar—­”

“Yes, I understand.  An implement like that used to kill Sir Alan Hume-Frazer.”