“Who wrote the letter which set the snare?”

Silver shuffled.  “Chaldea loves Mr. Lambert,” he said hesitating.

“Go on,” ordered the widow coldly and retaining her self-control.

“She is jealous of you, Lady Agnes, because—­”

“There is no reason to explain,” interrupted the listener between her teeth.

“Well, then, Chaldea hating you, says that you wrote the letter.”

“Oh, indeed.”  Lady Agnes replied calmly enough, although her conflicting emotions almost suffocated her.  “Then I take it that this gypsy declares me to be a murderess.”

“Oh, I shouldn’t say that exactly.”

“I do say it,” cried Lady Agnes, rising fiercely.  “If I wrote the letter, and set the snare, I must necessarily know that some one was hiding in the shrubbery to shoot my husband.  It is an abominable lie from start to finish.”

“I am glad to hear you say so.  But the letter?”

“The police will deal with that.”

“The police?  You will let Chaldea give the letter to the police?”

“I am innocent and have no fear of the police.  Your attempt to blackmail me has failed, Mr. Silver.”

“Be wise and take time for reflection,” he urged, walking towards the door, “for I have seen this letter, and it is in your handwriting.”

“I never wrote such a letter.”

“Then who did—­in your handwriting?”

“Perhaps you did yourself, Mr. Silver, since you are trying to blackmail me in this bareface way.”

Silver snarled and gave her an ugly look.  “I did no such thing,” he retorted vehemently, and, as it seemed, honestly enough.  “I had every reason to wish that Sir Hubert should live, since my income and my position depended upon his existence.  But you—­”

“What about me?” demanded Lady Agnes, taking so sudden a step forward that the little man retreated nearer the door.

“People say—­”

“I know what people say and what you are about to repeat,” she said in a stifled voice.  “You can tell the girl to take that forged letter to the police.  I am quite able to face any inquiry.”

“Is Mr. Lambert also able?”

“Mr. Lambert?” Agnes felt as though she would choke.

“He was at his cottage on that night.”

“I deny that; he went to London.”

“Chaldea can prove that he was at his cottage, and—­”

“You had better go,” said Lady Agnes, turning white and looking dangerous.  “Go, before you say what you may be sorry for.  I shall tell Mr. Lambert the story you have told me, and let him deal with the matter.”

Silver threw off the mask, as he was enraged she should so boldly withstand his demands.  “I give you one week,” he said harshly.  “And, if you do not pay me twenty-five thousand pounds, that letter goes to the inspector at Wanbury.”

“It can go now,” she declared dauntlessly.

“In that case you and Mr. Lambert will be arrested at once.”