After some reflection Gebb concluded that Miss Wedderburn was quite ignorant of the causes which had led to her cousin's death; also of the details, and of the death itself. He therefore told her as concisely as possible the story of the tragedy from the time Mrs. Presk had been brought to the Grangebury police-station, down to the visit he had paid to Prain the solicitor. Some points in the story he suppressed, others he amplified; but, on the whole, he gave her a very fair and unprejudiced account.
With attentive ears, and her eyes fixed on the face of the narrator, Edith sat listening, her hands clasped loosely on her lap. Several times she asked him questions, but as a rule let the account flow on uninterruptedly. When Gebb ended, she heaved a deep sigh, whether of relief or pity the detective could not say, and rose to pace up and down the room. Evidently she was more moved by the tragic fate of her wretched cousin than she chose to admit. Gebb having told his story, waited for her to recover, and comment on the matter.
"Poor Ellen!" said Miss Wedderburn at length, but speaking to herself rather than to her companion. "A miserable ending to a miserable life; but I am not astonished."
"How is that?" said Gebb, with a sharp look at her. "Surely the tragedy is unexpected enough."
Miss Wedderburn shook her head. "Ellen always said that sooner or later she would be murdered."
"By Mr. Dean?"
"Yes," replied Edith, quietly, "by Mr. Dean."
"Oh!" said the detective, taking a long breath. "I thought you believed in the innocence of Dean."
"So I do; I never said I didn't. I only remarked that Ellen declared Mr. Dean would kill her."
"Well, she has been murdered, and in the most barbarous manner. Do you say Dean is the criminal?"