"She said she liked her own goods and chattels about her," replied Mrs. Presk; "and though at first I did not fancy the idea of clearing out the parlour--which was most handsomely furnished--yet, on thinking over the matter, I decided that double the money I asked was not to be despised. I therefore agreed to Miss Ligram's terms, and on the last day of April I dismantled the parlour. On the first of May Miss Ligram came in a van and----"
"Came in a van?" interrupted Gebb, profoundly astonished.
"Yes! she rode beside the driver, and he assisted her to set out the parlour in the style you saw. It was all done in a day by the pair, for Miss Ligram would not let me help."
"Perhaps she was afraid of your asking the driver questions as to where she came from?" suggested Gebb, shrewdly.
"She might have saved herself the trouble," said Mrs. Presk, grimly. "I did speak to the driver, and asked that very question, only to find that he was deaf and dumb."
"Queer!" murmured the detective, rubbing his nose. "She took good care to hide her past I wonder why?"
"I don't," snapped the landlady with feminine malevolence; "it's my opinion that Miss Ligram's past was not respectable."
"H'm! I must say it looks like it. What was the name on the van?"
"There was no name, Mr. Gebb. The van--painted yellow, with one grey horse and a red-headed driver, deaf and dumb--was the private property of Miss Ligram. It was not the first time she had moved that yellow room about," and the widow nodded significantly.
"Why are you doubtful of Miss Ligram's past?"