CHAPTER XIII.
GOSSIP Going by circumstantial evidence, Diana certainly had good grounds to accuse Mrs.Vrain of committing the crime, for there were four points at least which could be proved past all doubt as incriminating her strongly in the matter.
In the first place, the female shadow on the blind seen by Lucian, showed that a woman had been in the habit of entering the house by the secret way of the cellar, and during the absence of Vrain.
Secondly, the finding of the parti-coloured ribbon in the Silent House, which had been knotted round the handle of the stiletto by Diana, and the absence of the stiletto itself from its usual place on the wall of the Berwin Manor library, proved that the weapon had been removed therefrom to London, and, presumably, used to commit the deed, seeing that otherwise there was no necessity for its presence in the Geneva Square mansion.
Thirdly, Diana had discovered that Lydia had spent the night of the murder in town; and, lastly, she also declared that the fragment of gauze found by Lucian on the dividing fence was the property of Mrs.
Vrain.
This quartette of charges was recapitulated by Diana in support of her accusation of her stepmother.
"I always suspected Lydia as indirectly guilty," she declared in concluding her speech for the prosecution, "but I was not certain until now that she had actually struck the blow herself." "But did she ?" said Denzil, by no means convinced.
"I do not know what further evidence you require to prove it," retorted Diana indignantly.

"She was in town on Christmas Eve; she took the stiletto from the library, and----" "You can't prove that," interrupted Lucian decidedly.

Then, seeing the look of anger on Diana's face, he hastened to apologise.

"Excuse me, Miss Vrain," he said nervously.

"I am not the less your friend because I combat your arguments; but in this case it is necessary to look on both sides of the question.