Trent would have made an angry reply, and there is no knowing to what lengths the quarrel would have proceeded, only that Browne's attitude was so sturdy, and his blue eyes so unflinching in their gaze, that the Inspector thought it would be best to leave the fiery little doctor alone. He was as much in the right, as Trent himself was in the wrong. However, the Inspector was determined to vent his wrath on someone, and chose Elspeth, who remained in the room, with himself and Browne. Everyone else, even Mrs. Narby, was out hunting the miserable man, whom they insisted was guilty.
"What do you know of this?" asked Trent. "Tell the truth!"
"I never tell lies," replied the girl quietly. "I know nothing. I went up over an hour ago to inform Mr. Herries that I had sent the telegram, and the policeman, who has just gone out, would not allow me to see him. I then put on my cloak and hat, and came down to go with Sweetlips Kind to his caravan."
"Why did you go there?"
"To see his wife, who is dying. If you remember, Mr. Trent----"
"Yes, yes," snapped the Inspector rather ashamed of himself, and addressed Browne. "A Cheap-jack came here over an hour ago asking that a doctor should be sent to his wife. Your friend Herries is a medical man, but of course I could not let him go, and there was no one else."
"Is the woman very ill?" asked Browne, sharply.
"She was, but she is better now," replied Elspeth, "I looked after her. It is not a matter of life and death, now."
"In that case, I may as well see the corpse upstairs," said the doctor, briskly. "Will you come with me, Mr. Inspector?"
Trent agreed, readily enough, as there was nothing else left for him to do. His men and the villagers were out hunting the mists for the escaped criminal, and it was useless for him to join in, since his presence was required in the death-chamber. He went upstairs with the doctor, and Elspeth was left alone. She heaved a sigh of relief when they departed, and sat down before the fire to snatch a few moments of quiet before her tyrant returned, and to think over the position of affairs.