"No one has any intention of causing you trouble—providing you tell us everything," replied Mr. Nichols significantly.
"What do you wish to know?"
"First, how did you learn Mr. Crocker's secret?"
"I worked for him a great many years," returned the housekeeper with a slight toss of her head. "Both at this cottage and later when he lived at his present home. Not being stupid, I suspected a fly in the ointment so to speak when he came into his fortune."
"You did a little investigation work?" prompted the detective.
"Exactly. I read the letters in the attic, and I thought it was time someone knew about the great injustice which had been done Walter Crocker."
"That was very kind of you, I'm sure," said the detective dryly. "What did you do when you found the letters?"
"I didn't do anything at first. Then Mr. Crocker discharged me——"
"I see," interrupted Mr. Nichols. "His high-handed ways made you remember the letters in the cottage attic. Thinking that the nephew should learn of them you no doubt entered the cottage and secured the evidence."
"I did," the housekeeper nodded grimly.