"Ah!"--Cicero did not move a muscle--"she has told you that I can give you information about the body of her husband?"
"Yes, and she has come to town to see you. However, I have intercepted her, and she is waiting to see you in a place I know of. You must come with me, Mr. Gramp."
But Cicero shook his head uneasily.
"An Englishman's house is his castle," he said. "This is my house, my keep, my donjon. Quod erat demonstrandum!"
"Oh, confound your dictionary Latin!" cried Alan impatiently. "You are afraid of the police?"
"Far from it, Mr. Thorold. I have nothing to fear from them. For one hundred pounds I lay bare my heart."
"I'll give you fifty pounds on condition you tell me all you know. From Mrs. Warrender you won't receive a penny."
"Then she shall never know where lies the body of her late lamented partner."
"She knows that already," said Alan coolly.
"Ha!"--Cicero gave a dramatic start--"you seek to deceive me!"