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Chapter XII. The Last Link
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“Whendidyouchangeyourmind?”
“WhenIfoundthatthemoreeffortsImadetoclearhim,themoreeffortshemadetogethimselfarrested.Then,whenIdiscoveredthatInglethorphadnothingtodowithMrs.RaikesandthatinfactitwasJohnCavendishwhowasinterestedinthatquarter,Iwasquitesure.”
“Butwhy?”
“Simplythis.IfithadbeenInglethorpwhowascarryingonanintriguewithMrs.Raikes,hissilencewasperfectlycomprehensible.But,whenIdiscoveredthatitwasknownalloverthevillagethatitwasJohnwhowasattractedbythefarmer’sprettywife,hissilenceborequiteadifferentinterpretation.Itwasnonsensetopretendthathewasafraidofthescandal,asnopossiblescandalcouldattachtohim.Thisattitudeofhisgavemefuriouslytothink,andIwasslowlyforcedtotheconclusionthatAlfredInglethorpwantedtobearrested.Ehbien!fromthatmoment,Iwasequallydeterminedthatheshouldnotbearrested.”
“Waitaminute.Idon’tseewhyhewishedtobearrested?”
“Because,monami,itisthelawofyourcountrythatamanonceacquittedcanneverbetriedagainforthesameoffence.Aha!butitwasclever—hisidea!Assuredly,heisamanofmethod.Seehere,heknewthatinhispositionhewasboundtobesuspected,soheconceivedtheexceedinglycleverideaofpreparingalotofmanufacturedevidenceagainsthimself.Hewishedtobearrested.
