"It will assume an altogether different complexion from the one it wears at present. That goes without saying." It was Drelincourt who completed the sentence.
He drummed on the table for a few seconds with his finger tips. Then he resumed:
"A few days ago an enlightened British jury declared the man Gumley to be guilty of murder because, having confessed to being a thief, they assumed that he must of necessity be the author of the greater crime. It was a verdict, my dear Ormsby, in which I have no doubt you fully concurred."
"I did concur in it, and most fully. Twenty years ago I avowed my belief in Gumley's guilt, a belief which the result of the recent trial has fully justified, for of course I attach no credence to the so called confession of this hair brained Roden Marsh. No, sir, you may rely upon it that Gumley is the real criminal, and I shall receive with much satisfaction the news that he has been hanged."
"And yet, I am afraid, my dear Ormsby, that for once your usual acumen has been at fault--a rare occurrence, I admit--seeing that I happen to be in a position to prove that yonder poor devil now lying under sentence of death had no more to do with the tragic end of my first wife than either of you."
"Drelincourt, you astound me," exclaimed Sir John. "Are we really to understand that you are in a position to prove Gumley's innocence?"
"I think what I said was clearly to that effect."
"In that case, the question naturally follows: If you are prepared to prove Gumley's innocence, are you, further, in a position to bring the real criminal's guilt home to him?"
Mr. Ormsby's lips moved, but no sound came from them.
"You astonish me more and more," responded Sir John. "It is a fortunate thing that Ormsby and I took it into our heads to call upon you."
"Had you not done so, I should have called upon you, Sir John, a little later in the day."
"With the view of conveying to me the same information that you have just now imparted?"
"Then you had made up your mind before seeing us today to reveal what you know?"
"Of course, our meeting here today is altogether informal and _ex officio_; still, if I gather your intention aright, you will be prepared at another time and place--say tomorrow, at Sunbridge court house--to substantiate on oath what you have just told us?"