The strange gentleman knocked at the door.
Bess opened it, and before she could ask their names the men had brushed past her into a room where they heard the sound of voices.
George and Gertie were sitting in the shadow, and something was lying quite still upon the bed.
‘Josh Heckett,’ exclaimed the strange gentleman, moving towards the bed, ‘in the Queen’s name, I arrest you!’
George, forgetting caution, had hardly time to recover from his astonishment at the entrance of strangers before the detective had proclaimed his mission.
‘You are too late!’ exclaimed George, seizing the officer’s hand as it was about to touch the bed. ‘Your prisoner has already gone to answer for all his offences.’
‘Gone!’ exclaims the officer.
‘Yes, to the Great Sessions where all men are tried—Josh Heckett is dead!’
‘It is true!’ whispered Jabez Duck; ‘he is dead!’
He had stolen softly to the bed where the dead man lay. At the sound of George s voice he turned and faced him.