That's a fact, mister!"
"Had Mr. Multenius any private business relations of which he didn't tell
you?" asked Purdie, turning to Zillah.
"He might have had," admitted Zillah. "He was out a good deal. I don't
know what he might do when he went out. He was--close. We--it's no use
denying it--we don't know all about it. His solicitor's making some
enquiries--I expect him here, any time, today."
"It comes to this," observed Purdie. "Your grandfather met his death by
violence, the man who attacked him came in here during your absence. The
question I want to get solved is--was the man who undoubtedly left that
book here the guilty man? If so--who is he?"
Melky suddenly broke the silence which followed upon this question.
"I'm going to tell something that I ain't told to nobody as yet!" he said.
"Not even to Zillah. After this here parlour had been cleared, I took a
look round. I've very sharp eyes, Mr. Purdie. I found this here--half-
hidden under the rug there, where the poor old man had been lying." He
pulled out the platinum solitaire, laid it on the palm of one hand, and
extended the hand to Mrs.
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