He didn't look at Mark directly as he nodded again, minutely, and licked his lips before taking another drink, which he was at least finding was helpful in keeping his throat from going dry as he spoke.

"I had enough enemies in the Mirador that they would not have searched very hard for another explanation, and I had..." he cleared his throat, "...something of a notorious temper. Isaac had planted sufficient evidence to lay the blame at my feet. Luckily for me, if the adjective can be used, Mildmay and a friend of ours, Mehitabel, discovered the crime before the Protectorate Guard was conveniently alerted to it, and in turn they came to warn me. Un-luckily...for all of us, probably...I was with Isaac at the time, and what they told me helped me realize that it was him that had done it. I probably don't have to tell you that I was angry. More than I have been in my entire life. But what I did..."