"He wouldn't have been such a fool as to murder
Bolton ashore when he could have done it so easily when on the
narrow seas."
"I agree with you there," said Random quickly. "But if he is
innocent; if he did not bring the manuscript into my room, who
did?"
"I wonder if Widow Anne herself is guilty?" said Lucy in a musing
tone.
All present turned and looked at the girl.
"Who is Widow Anne?" asked Don Pedro with a puzzled air,
"She is the mother of Sidney Bolton, the man who was murdered,"
said Hope quickly. "My dear Lucy, why do you say that?"
Lucy paused before replying and then answered the question by
asking another one.
"Did you ask Sidney to get you some clothes from his mother to
clothe a model?"
"Never in my life," said Hope promptly, and, as Lucy, saw, truly.
"Well, I accidentally met Mrs. Bolton to-day, and she insisted
that her son had borrowed from her a dark shawl and a dark dress
for you."
"That is not true," said Hope hotly. "Why should the woman tell
such a lie?"
"Well," said Lucy slowly, "it struck me that the woman who spoke
with Sidney through the Sailor's Rest window might be Widow Anne
herself, and that she has invented this story of the clothes
being lent to account for their being worn, should she be
discovered.
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