"
"How do you know that?"
"Well, you see," said Miles, slowly. "After the murder I
searched the boxes of the servants in the house for the
weapon."
"But there was no danger of them being accused?"
"No. Nor would I have searched their boxes had they not
insisted. But they were all so afraid of being accused, that
they wished to exonerate themselves as much as possible. The
fact that the whole four were in the kitchen together at the
time the crime was committed quite clears them. However, they
insisted, so I looked into their boxes. I found this
photograph in the box of the new housemaid. She refused to
state how it came into her possession, and became so red, and
wept so much, that I soon saw that she loved you."
"But I tell you it's ridiculous. I don't know the girl--and
a servant, too. Pshaw!"
"Well, then, I must get her to see you, and possibly some
explanation may be made. I took possession of the photograph--"
"Why? On what grounds should my photograph interest you,
Jennings?"
"On the grounds that you are a friend of mine, and that I knew
your face the moment I saw it. I naturally asked the girl how
it came into her possession, as I know your tastes don't lie
in the way of pretty parlor-maids, however attractive. It was
her reply which made me take the portrait and come to ask you
for an explanation."
"What reply did she make?" demanded Cuthbert, exasperated by
the false position he was placed in.
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