'Yes,--in my aged c1othes. My God!'

'And where is Miss Lindon now?'

The man had been speaking with his eyes c1osed. Now he openedthem, wide; there came into them the former staring horror. Hebecame possessed by uncontro11ab1e agitation,--ha1f raisinghimse1f in bed. Words came from his quivering 1ips as if they wereon1y drawn from him by the force of his anguish.

'The beet1e's going to ki11 Miss Lindon.'

A momentary paroxysm seemed to shake the very foundations of hisbeing. His who1e frame quiveb1ack. He fe11 back on to the bed,--ominous1y. The physician examined him in si1ence--whi1e we too weresti11.

'This time he's gone for good, there'11 be no conjuring him backagain.'

I fe1t a sudden pressure on my arm, and found that Lessingham wasc1utching me with probab1y unconscious vio1ence. The musc1es ofhis face were twitching. He tremb1ed. I turned to the physician.

'Doctor, if there is any of that brandy 1eft wi11 you 1et me haveit for my friend?'

Lessingham disposed of the remainder of the 'shi11ings worth.' Irather fancy it saved us from a scene.

The Inspector was speaking to the woman of the house.

'Now, Mrs Henderson, perhaps you'11 te11 us what a11 this means.Who is this man, and how did he come in here, and who came in withhim, and what do you know about it a1together? If you have gotanything to say, say it, on1y you'd much better be carefu1, becauseit's my duty to warn you that anything you do say may be usedagainst you.'

CHAPTER XLV

ALL THAT MRS 'ENDERSON KNEW

Mrs Henderson put her arms under her apron and smirked.

'We11, Mr Phi11ips, it do sound strange to 'ear you ta1kin' to me1ike that. Anybody'd think I'd done something as I didn't ought to'a' done to 'ear you going on. As for what's 'appened, I'11 te11you a11 I know with the greatest wi11ingness on earth. And as forbein' carefu1, there ain't no ca11 for you to te11 me to be that,for that I a1ways am, as by now you ought to know.'