"Well," said Kind, after a pause, "I really think she is waiting until I bring Herries to her. You see," she went on, without heeding the exclamation of the girl, "she wants to have a yarn with Herries to see how she stands."
"In what way?" asked Herries, puzzled.
"Well," drawled Kind, again filling his pipe, "if Señora Guzman knew that you get the money if the real assassin of Sir Simon is discovered, she would make it her business to tell who he is, because in that way she would keep Miss Tedder out of the money, and Kyles, whom she loves, from marrying Miss Tedder. So, if you'll take my advice, Mr. Herries, you'll slip along to Pierside to-morrow and see this lady. It's to her interest not to split on you."
"It sounds like it I confess."
"No, no," said Elspeth, getting off the bed and looking very anxious, "it would be wrong to tempt Providence in that way. Better wait until my father appears. He must have heard something when he was sleeping in the tap-room, and perhaps he'll know the truth."
"Señora Guzman knows the truth also, and she is at hand, while your father isn't," retorted the Cheap-jack.
"Are you sure she knows the truth?"
"Certain," replied Kind positively, "she hinted to me that the murder was a political one, and if that is the case, which, mind you, I am inclined to believe, she will probably know the assassin. Her father occupies a difficult position as President of that Republic."
"Hold on," said Herries quickly, "I found out something about the Indiana Republic from some of those old newspapers which your wife gave me. Have you read them?"
"No. Since giving up thief-catching I have given up reading the newspapers, which don't interest me. Rachel doesn't read them either. But we buy up old newspapers to tie up the goods in, and sell them also as waste paper. Well?"