"I'm gradually piecing it together, as we go on.
It would seem to me that he made his way to Edinburgh after getting rid of you, as he thought and hoped--probably got there the very next morning, through the help of yon fisherman at Largo, Robertson, who, of course, told us and the police a pack of lies!--and when he'd got the last of these securities from Paley, he worked back here, secretly, and with the help of Hollins, and has no doubt kept quiet in this old tower until they could get away with that gold! Of course, Hollins has been in at all this--but now--who's killed Hollins?
And where's the chief party--the other man ?" "What ?" I exclaimed.

"You don't think he killed Hollins, then ?" "I should be a fool if I did, my lad," he answered.

"Bethink yourself!--when all was cut and dried for their getting off, do you think he'd stick a knife in his confederate's throat?
No!--I can see their plan, and it was a good one.

Hollins would have run those cases down to Newcastle in a couple of hours; there'd have been no suspicion about them, and no questions which he couldn't answer--he'd have gone across to Hamburg with them himself.

As for the man we know as Sir Gilbert, you'll be hearing something presently from Mr.Elphinstone yonder; but my impression is, as Maisie never saw or heard of him during the night and day, that he got away after his wife last night--and with those securities on him!" "Then--who killed Hollins ?" I said in sheer amazement.