"But why should he go and spread such a story?"
"Because he wants to shelter some one else!"
"Who?"
"Ah, that's for the police to find out. But I'm quite certain, Ned, that that pig-headed old Simon with his cod-fish eyes and his everlasting grunt is at the bottom of it all!"
He stared thoughtfully into space.
"Well," he said slowly, "he has certainly been asking for trouble in one or two ways, and this seems another invitation. But he'll get it, sure! At the same time—what's his object?"
His sister had no hesitation.
"Either to make money or hide something disgraceful. You really must enquire into this, Ned!"
He dropped into a chair and sat for a few minutes with his face in his hands. At last he looked up and shook his head.