And during one of her absences, later in the early
evening of that day, Zillah, alone in the house, answered a knock at the
door, and opening it found Ayscough outside. His look betokened news, and
Zillah led him into the parlour.
"Alone?" asked Ayscough. "Aye, well, I've something to tell you that I
want you to keep to yourself--for a bit, anyway. Those rings, you know,
that the young fellow, Lauriston, says are his, and had been his
mother's?"
"Well?" said Zillah, faintly, and half-conscious of some coming bad news.
"What of them?"
"Our people," continued the detective, "have had some expert chap--
jeweller, or something of that sort, examining those rings, and comparing
them with the rings that are in your tray. And in that tray there are
several rings which have a private mark inside them. Now, then!--those two
rings which Lauriston claims are marked in exactly the same fashion!"
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WHAT THE LAMPS SHONE ON
Zillah leaned suddenly back against the table by which she was standing,
and Ayscough, who was narrowly watching the effect of his news, saw her
turn very pale.
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