Perhaps had Heron attacked Jerry less suddenly, and had he not shewn by a few chosen remarks that he knew a good deal, the half-witted creature might not have confessed. But his weak nature gave way altogether. And during the next half-hour Geoffrey turned him inside out like a glove. The story which Heron extracted from the whimpering creature was this Roper had always suspected, and rightly, that Jenner had hidden the forged bill before he went to prison. When the man came out, he got to know the date of his discharge, and set Jerry to follow him in order that he might see where he went to get the document. Jerry was on the track for many days, and saw that he procured it from an old friend, who, ignorant of its value, had taken charge of it. The document was in a sealed envelope, and Jerry had seen Jenner place it in a red pocket-book. All this he reported to Roper, and he was then ordered to follow Jenner, and get it from him at all costs.
Jerry got again on the track of the released prisoner, and followed him down to Westham. In one way or another the spy kept himself out of sight, for Jenner, having been Roper's clerk, knew the lad--as he then was. The rest may be told in Jerry's own words, which were many and rambling:
"He got down here on a misty, rainy night, sir," he said, fiddling with his clumsy fingers, "and I kept at his heels. At a wayside pub he took victuals and drink; I watched the door from the other side of the road, and ate what I had with me. I daren't go inside lest he should see me."
"Didn't you lose him in the mist?" asked Geoffrey, who was listening eagerly.
"I never lose anything, sir," returned Jerry. "I can see anywhere, and foller like a dog. You don't slip me! I've had enough follering to do for the master. Well, Jenner he goes to a large pool of water."
"The Waggoner's Pond. Go on."
"Oh, that's it, is it? I never know'd. Well, there he meets with Mr. Marshall. Oh, I know'd his voice. I was hiding near them behind a hedge, I was; and a ghost came past me, sir--a ghost with a long black dress."
Heron saw that the man was ignorant that Mrs. Marshall also had been listening; and this was all the better. It was as well that Jerry had taken her for a ghost.
"I hate him so, you see," explained Jerry. "He killed Miss Elsa, and I was cruel fond of her, I was. Well, them two was talking about the bill, and Jenner he shewed it to Marshall, but he wouldn't give it up till he got money for it. Marshall said he'd give him money when he was married and after that they parted. I tried to foller Jenner, but I thought the other--Marshall--'ud spot me. I didn't mind, though, as I know'd Jenner was going to the Turnpike House to see his wife."
"But you were a stranger! How did you know where that was?"