"Know him? Of course I know him. Why, he's always coming round here for a pipe and a yarn. He's particularly chummy with me too. He told me his name was Garson."
"Did he speak to you that afternoon?"
"Yes; said it was a rum chance we met. The beggar must have followed me. But why? He knows where to find me when he wants me."
"Has he ever threatened you, or tried to get money from you?"
"Tried to get money from me? The chap's not born, my dear, who'd try such a fool's game as that. Whatever put that into your head."
"Oh, I don't know, Jabez; he's hard up and disreputable, and knowing as he does how you killed—"
"Hush! Confound you." He looked round apprehensively. "Don't speak so loud. Look here, Miriam, strikes me you're right. What with Dundas, and the old lady, and this young devil here, I'm in a tight place. I'd better skip while I can. But I tell you straight, if this Farren, or anyone else for that matter, tries coming it nasty with me, I'll do for 'em and then for myself. So you know. I'm not going to be taken alive. Now go on, tell me more about this beggar. Are you sure he knows as much as you fancy he does?"
"Quite sure, Jabez. He knows, at all events, that there's a price upon your head for murder." Then rapidly she told him how Farren had come to be in such a position towards Barton, and how he had always done the Squire's dirty work.
Jabez listened attentively, and chuckled to himself.
"Oh, that was the reason, was it? Now I see it all."