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And he saw at once that there was going to be no scene. The girl by the fire looked for an instant at the inspector with an expression of surprise, but it was not the surprise of great personal concern. As for the elder woman, after one quick glance from Drillford to Viner, whom she evidently recognized, she showed absolute self-possession. "A bad accident?" she asked.
"Well, ma'am," said Drillford, "then I may tell you that my news is just about as serious as it possibly could be, you understand." In the silence that followed, the girl turned toward the visitors, and Viner saw her colour change a little. And it was she who first spoke. "Don't be afraid to tell us," she said. "Is Mr. Ashton dead?" Drillford inclined his head, and spoke as he was bidden.
Drillford, found alone in his office, showed no surprise when Viner brought in and introduced his companions. He already knew the two lawyers, and exchanged comprehending words with them, but he looked at Lord Ellingham with the same interest which Viner had seen in him when Miss Wickham was present. "Of course, you may see the whole lot, gentlemen," he said as he unlocked the drawer.
"There's nothing to prevent it, to be sure," answered Drillford. "But Mr. Viner, you can't get over the fact that this fellow had Ashton's diamond ring in his possession!" "How do I how do you know how he came into possession of it?" demanded Viner. "And then that knife!" exclaimed Drillford. "Look here! I've got it. What sort of thing is that for an innocent, harmless man to carry about him?
They were found early this morning, hidden, in the very place in which Hyde confessed that he spent most of the night after Ashton's murder a shed belonging to one Fisher, a greengrocer, up the Harrow Road. "Who found them?" demanded Felpham. "Fisher himself," answered Drillford. "He was pottering about in his shed before going to Covent Garden.
Drillford again looked from the elder to the younger lady. "You'll excuse me if I ask what relation you ladies are to Mr. Ashton?" he said with a significant glance at Mrs. Killenhall. "None!" replied Mrs. Killenhall. "Miss Wickham is Mr. Ashton's ward. I am Miss Wickham's chaperon and companion."
"That's a mere detail," remarked Drillford impatiently. "These chaps that mooch about, as Hyde was doing, pick up all sorts of odds and ends. He may have pinched them from a chemist's shop. Anyway, there's the fact and we'll hang him on it! You'll see!" "We shall never see anything of the sort!" said Viner. "You're on the wrong tack, Inspector. Let me put two or three things to your intelligence.
"How did he come by the ring, then?" he asked, pointing at his prisoner. "Let him say!" "Hyde!" said Viner. "Tell! I've been certain for an hour that you didn't kill this man, and I want to help you. But tell us the truth! What do you know about it? How did you get that ring?" "I shall make use of anything he tells," remarked Drillford warningly. "He's going to tell everything," said Viner.
And if you want to help me, Viner, find that man because he must have come straight away from the body!" Drillford turned to Viner, glancing at the same time at the clock. "Do you want to ask him any more questions?" he inquired. "No? Well, there's just one I want to ask. What were you doing with that knife in your possession?" he went on, turning to Hyde.
He wanted some empty boxes, and in pulling things about he found these! Couldn't have made a more important find, I think. "Were these things loose?" asked Viner. "Wrapped loosely in the paper they're lying on," replied Drillford. Viner took the paper out of the drawer, examined it and lifted it to his nose.
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