It just happened, it wouldn't interest you to know how.

Yet--I beg of you to tell me one thing.

Was he with you for long--so long that he couldn't have got to the other place in time to commit the murder ?" "He was in my house until after one," I said boldly.

"But you, if you are his friend, ought to know him well enough to be certain without such an assurance from me, that he is no murderer." "Oh, I am certain," she protested.

"I asked the question, not for that reason, but to know if you could really prove his innocence, if you choose.