"'To the best of my belief he did,' I said. 'You may put me on the rack and tear me with red hot pinchers, and I can't say nothing but the truth. He did sleep here the night that awful murder was done in Victoria Park. Drag me to the witness-box and put me in irons, and I can't say nothing else. I saw him go to his room after I'd put up the chain; he called out 'Good night;' and the next morning the chain was up jest as I left it. You can't put the chain on the street-door from the outside; it must be done from the in. And now, Lemon, listen to me.'
"'What do you want?' he groaned. 'O, what do you want? Ain't I bad enough already that you try to make me worse?'
"'I must say, Lemon, what is on my mind.'
"'Won't it keep, Fanny?' he asked.
"'It won't keep,' I answered. 'You know the man as committed the murder, and you'll come with me to the police-station, and put the police on his track.'
"'Me know the wretch!' Lemon cried, his eyes almost starting out of his head. 'Have you gone mad?'
"'No, Lemon,' I answered, 'I'm in my sober senses. Whatever happens afterwards, we've got to face the consequences, or we shall wake up in the middle of the night and see that poor girl standing at our bedside pointing her finger at us. It's no use trying to disguise it. I know you know the wretch, and deny it you shan't.'
"'O,' he said, speaking very slow, as if he was choosing words, 'you know I know him!'
"'I do,' I answered.
"'Perhaps,' he said, with something like a click in his throat, 'you will tell me how that's possible, when it's gospel truth I've never set eyes on him all my born days.'