ose of a rat. He was immensely interested in the matter, as he recognised that this was no common crime, and hoped by tracing the assassin to make a big reputation as a

he outside of the house being delineated. Mrs. Vence also shared the honour of this painful publici

urse showed her the picture. "Why, 'taint me at all. 'Tis

drily. "You were not

s getting on, say what you will. But I ain't so bad-looking when all's said and done, although not

ing for the hundredth time why a fastidious gentleman had engaged her. "Did you know Sir Hector

r the situation, saying I could cook and hold my tongue, so Sir Hector engaged me. I came down here a few days afore he did, quite a

ngue?" asked Purse, seizing on the only phras

r tongue and don't talk, for I wants to be secret and quiet like for a b

he wished to be se

nt into the dinin'-room. But he said nothing to me, and went up to the drorin'-room to have a chat, s'pose. Afore seven there was a ring at the door, and the other gent arrived. While I was asking his business Sir Hector came flying down the stairs and took him into the st

interrupted the sergeant, who k

me to say it again?" dema

time when the second

e was muffled up like a Christmas-pudding. It was twenty to seven, as I know from the

en, or a trifle afterwards," said Purse, meditatively, "I expe

horrors and corpses. I came into the study with the victuals and drinks, as I says, and

eemed to expect him, for he says, 'Oh, you've come,' or something lik

, then, and was

Mrs. Vence, hugging herself, and rocking to and f

st, which takes

put up with? I didn't get no wages from Sir He

Hector's heir will

o's

who is a friend of Sir Hector's. I may

er. I'm travelling to London myself after the inquest to-morrer, and I do hope as my next situation won't be polic

t it on the table in the hall when talking to me. I shoved him out, and the policeman came. Afterwards, that imp, Ned

too

is as the door was open from the time the post came to the

?" asked the sergean

ng to do with him. I did ask him, and he s

r. Lem

don't go for to tell lies, do I? But the door was open all the time, and the fog was pouring in like st

. "Why do yo

it ain't no business o' mine, but the murderer might have slippe

a fool had he done that,"

s only an idea,

any reas

's sense. Well, I'm going to make myself some tea, and trim up my popping-out bonnet, so as to look smart for the sitt

d your tongue," said

ence, with great dignity, and tottered out of

rgeant's memory as he walked to the inn wher

ilight atmosphere. It was a gloomy, grey day, by no means cheerful, and the sergeant was glad to

sked Lemby, bluffly. "It's darkish here I don't deny. But if yo

ggested suc

ith this confounded murder, sergeant," roared the big man,

reat idea of his own importance. "There's no evidence to implicate you. All the same, I'm boun

ave stumbled on a mare's nest, hang you! No one was more surprised than I w

. "Undoubtedly the man who stole the bicycle

Wyke said nothing to m

u that he expec

twenty or fifteen minutes to seven, a

eturn?" said the

ld he, when the ma

ingly, for Lemby was a difficult witness to d

great

you know

now is in the newspapers, as these inferna

e to lead you to suppose that he had some se

ve of asking questions! Why don't you tr

I have people on the

ed the buccaneer. "And how long a

ent on the sergeant, "that no relative of Sir Hector's has appeared to

becomes extinct. If you don't believe me ask Mr. Sandal, of Lincoln's Inn Fi

"Very wise of you, sir.

es to. Sir Hector should, by rights, leave it

!" Purse start

hat you can of it." Lemby paused, cleared his throat, and continued. "Sir Hector was engaged to ma

ctor of this parish!" excl

wanted my daughter to become a lady of title. Sir Hector proposed, and the marriage was to have taken place a month ago

ason did

te from his London house. Finally I got it from Craver--Edwin, I mean--and came down the other night to force Wyke to e

his new complication took him by surprise. Edwin Craver loved the girl, Edwin Craver was the son

ent. I'll swear. In my opinion it was----" He hesitated, faltered and broke