"But, don't you see," persisted Geoffrey, "she may think that he has the bill--she may be keeping her knowledge of the murder quiet so that Job may not produce the document and incriminate her husband."
"Inez knows nothing about the bill. You heard what her husband said!"
"He is such a liar!" cried Heron, in disgust.
"Nevertheless, I believe on this occasion he spoke the truth. I cannot believe that my sister--in spite of her love for that reptile--would go as far as to grovel to a gypsy and shield a murderer. No; the gypsy might have been one of those who attacked Marshall on that night; but I do not believe that he killed Jenner. Don't trouble any more about the matter, Heron. We have done all we could with no result. Besides, Mrs. Jenner--poor soul--will soon be released from her unjust imprisonment--if, indeed, it be unjust; death will set her free."
"What about Neil and his wish to see his mother cleared?"
"We shall see what he says about that," replied Mr. Cass, closing the subject in a more peremptory manner than was usual with him.
The same afternoon Neil Webster arrived at Hollyoaks, looking a shadow of his former self, pale and fragile, and very downcast. Ruth and Jennie both gave him a cordial welcome; and neither his host nor Geoffrey Heron were lacking in heartiness. But all the kindness and attention he received served only to make the young man more melancholy. Observing this, and knowing that he had seen his mother, Mr. Cass took the first opportunity to draw him into the library: it might be that Mrs. Jenner had told the poor fellow something. It appeared that she had.
"Yes, I saw her," Neil said, in reply to Mr. Cass's question. "She is dying; I have seen her for the last time! She cannot live many days now; indeed, I wanted to stay beside her till the end, but she would not hear of it. She said that I was to go away and remember always that she had loved me. For the rest, I was to put her out of my mind, and live as good a life as I could. Then she kissed me, and we parted."
"Is that all?"
"That is all; except that she has commanded me to stop searching for the real assassin of my father."