"She's a friend of mine from Wargrove," said Cain sulkily; "get back into the cart, Jane."
"From Wargrove?" said the dark man with a queer smile; "and her name?"
"I'm Jane Wasp, sir," said the girl, looking into the man's somewhat brutal face.
The man laughed. "Policeman Wasp's daughter, as I'm a sinner. How's your fool of a father? Catching every one he shouldn't catch, I suppose? He was always too clever."
Cain interposed. "Leave her alone fa----, I mean Signor Antonio," he said, "she's going home."
Signor Antonio turned on him with a snarl. "Hold your tongue, you whelp," he said, "I'll talk to whom I like and as long as I like. I want to know what Policeman Wasp's doing now?"
"He's looking after the murderer of Mr. Strode," said Jane politely.
The man started and laughed. "I hope he'll catch him: but it's a business rather beyond his powers, I fancy. Stop, you're the girl who delivered the package to Mr. Hill."
"To young Mr. Hill," said Jane, climbing into Mrs. Whiffles cart, "not to the father."
Signor Antonio turned on the boy with a frown. "I told you it was to be given to Mr. Hill himself."