"Not a soul. I saw no one. Everybody in Grangebury seemed to be at the lecture."
"Did you write and tell Mr. Ferris about my visit to you?"
"Yes, I did; and warned him not to pawn the necklace, as he might be suspected. But it was too late, for he pawned it the day after I gave it to him. But he is innocent, as you see, Mr. Gebb. Surely he will be released."
"When his trial takes place he will," said Gebb. "He would have been let off before if he had told this story to the magistrate."
"Ah!" said Edith, in a low voice, "he held his peace for my sake. Good, brave Arthur! No wonder I love him."
[CHAPTER XVIII]
WHAT MRS. PRESK FOUND
Gebb continued to question and cross-question Edith until he became thoroughly acquainted with the details of her visit to Miss Gilmar at Grangebury. When in full possession of the facts he permitted her to depart, but took the precaution to ask for her London address in case he should require her further evidence. Edith informed him that since leaving Kirkstone Hall she had been staying with an old schoolfellow in Bloomsbury Square, and was likely to remain there for some time, or at all events until she could find a situation.
"I must work, you know, Mr. Gebb," she confessed frankly. "I am very poor."
"Yet had you accepted Mr. Alder you would----"