"Why! I am engaged to the sister of the dead girl; so I thought--"
"That I might accuse you of killing Sir Gregory out of revenge?"
"Well, I did have that thought in my head; and then the coincidence of the cross, you know."
Fanks laughed, and took the hand of Hersham. "My dear lad," he said. "I have no idea of accusing you of the crime; your engagement to Miss Colmer is no proof that you killed the man who acted so badly towards her sister. Do not, therefore, hesitate to tell me all you know. How Emma Calvert came to London; how she met with Sir Gregory; and how she was loved by Herbert Vaud?"
"What!" cried Hersham. "You know that also?"
"I know more than you think, Hersham; therefore, if you attempt to deceive me I shall find you out. Now go on with your story."
"I do not want to deceive you," replied the journalist, "but you must understand that I only speak from hearsay. If you want the tale first-hand you must see old Mrs. Colmer, at Taxton-on-Thames."
"Hum!" said Fanks, remembering his theory regarding the directing of the envelope which contained the cardboard star. "What kind of a person is the lady in question?"
"An invalid," said Hersham, promptly. "A paralytic; she has not moved hand or foot for years."
"Confound it!"