"Granted," said Japix, eagerly; "but even if he did remove Melstane by that morphia method, he would be no nearer the object of his love than before. A chemist's assistant is not a fitting match for the heiress of Francis Marson."
"Besides," said Axton, taking up the defence, "why should Judas take the trouble to kill Melstane at Jarlchester when he could have done so at Ironfields?"
"Oh, that's merely a question of safety," replied Octavius, thoughtfully. "If Melstane had died here, awkward questions might have been asked, which would have been difficult for Guinaud to answer; but at Jarlchester the man dies, and there is nothing to connect Judas or any one else with the death. That pill idea is a devilish ingenious one."
"Pooh! the virtuous English can easily hold their own in that respect; for every extraordinary case in Paris I can find you an equivalent in London."
"By the way," cried Japix, suddenly deserting the line of conversation in favour of a new one, "I went to see Miss Marson to-day; she's very ill, you know."
"My fault," said Roger, regretfully, "blurting out the fact of Melstane's death."
"Well, go on," said Fanks, impatiently; "what were you going to say, Japix?"
"And I saw her father, who told me a most extraordinary thing."
"Wait a bit," said the detective, with great excitement. "I'll bet you a fiver that I can tell you what he told you."
"The deuce you can!" replied Japix, in astonishment. "Well, I'll take the bet. Marson said?"
"That Judas had written him asking him for an interview."
"Right! How the--no, I won't swear. But how, by all that's sacred, did you find that out?"
"And Judas also said it was about some documents."
"Right again! I believe you are a magician, Fanks."
"I wish you'd stop talking riddles," broke in Roger, irritably, "and tell us what the deuce you mean."
"It won't be very pleasant--to your ears."
"Go on. I know what you're going to say," said Roger, excitedly, "but don't mind me. I'm going to know the truth about this business."
Japix looked at his two guests with astonishment depicted on his broad, good-humoured face, but judged it best to say nothing until Octavius explained matters, which he did speedily.
"My dear Japix," he said, quietly, "there was a packet of letters which Roger obtained from Melstane at Jarlchester and forwarded to Miss Varlins, addressed to her by her first name."