"I'm innocent," groaned Jessop.
"Every man is innocent until convicted by a jury," said Hurd, calmly. "Consider me a jury and I'll size up your case, when I hear all. Are you innocent of both murders?"
"Lady Rachel committed suicide," said Jessop, raising a haggard face. "Yes—I stick to that, sir. As to Krill's death in London, I didn't touch him; I swear I didn't."
"But you saw him on that night?"
"How can you prove that?"
"Very simply. Norman—or Krill if you prefer the old name—took certain jewellery to Pash for safe keeping shortly before his death. You presented to Pash a paper, undeniably written and signed by the old man, saying that the jewellery was to be given up to bearer. Now, before taking the jewellery to Pash, Krill could not have written that paper, so you must have seen him during the few hours which elapsed between his visit to Pash and his death."
This was clearly argued, and Jessop could not contradict. "I left him quite well and hearty."
"In the cellar in Gwynne Street?"
"Yes, in the cellar," admitted Jessop.
"At what time?"