"There's no chance of my marrying George until I get this thousand pounds' reward which Sir Joseph Branwin offers."
"And I am to get half of it, if I can help you, remember," said the blind girl. "Like yourself, I can't marry Walter until we have money. Then we can live in the country in a tiny cottage, and he can paint his pictures while I look after the household."
"But can you do that, Parizade, seeing you are blind?"
"Oh, I have eyes at the end of my fingers," said the other, caressingly. "Why, I know every bit of this large house, so it will not be difficult to learn all about a small cottage. But fancy Walter loving a blind girl like me."
"You are so pretty, Parizade."
"I am glad of that, and it's all really genuine. Oh"--Parizade fell back on her pillows with a sigh--"how glad I shall be to take my own name and leave this horrid Pink Shop. Has what I told you given you any help? I do so want my share of the reward."
"I have got no help from it so far," said Miss Toat, shaking her head. "Tell me again exactly what happened."
"Oh, I have told you over and over again," said Parizade, petulantly. "There was another person in the house on that night."
"I know; Rosy Pearl," said the detective, swiftly.
"Yes; she was the customer who slept in the upstairs bedroom, and who did not wish her name to be known. Inspector Lanton was told by Madame, but as Miss Pearl knew nothing she was not called as a witness at her own request. But how did you learn the name, Miss Toat? Madame warned the girls not to tell it to anyone."