"You don't
suggest--"
"Don't suggest anything--just now," answered the detective, quietly. "But
you must stop here with me, until I find out more. Come to the door--we
must have help here."
Lauriston saw there was nothing to do but to obey, and he followed
Ayscough to the street door. The detective opened it, looked out, and
waiting a few minutes, beckoned to a policeman who presently strolled
along. After a whispered word or two, the policeman went away, and
Ayscough beckoned Lauriston back into the shop.
"Now," he said, "there'll be some of our people and a surgeon along in a
few minutes--before they come, just tell me your story. You're an honest-
looking young chap--but you must admit that it looks a bit queer that I
should find you running out of this shop, old Multenius dead inside his
parlour, and you with a couple of rings in your possession which look
uncommonly like his property! Just tell me how it came about."
Lauriston told him the plain truth--from the pawning of the watch to the
present visit. Ayscough watched him narrowly--and at the end nodded his
head.
"That sounds like a straight tale, Mr.
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