een him during the few hours which elapsed between his
visit to Pash and his death."

This was clearly argued, and Jessop could not contradict. "I left him
quite well and hearty."

"In the cellar in Gwynne Street?"

"Yes, in the cellar," admitted Jessop.

"At what time?"

"About half-past eight--say between eight and nine."

"Well, what happened?" asked Hurd, smoking quietly.

The sailor twisted his big hands and groaned. Then he laid his head on
the table and began to sob, talking brokenly and huskily. "I'm done
for," he gasped. "I'd know'd it would come--no--I ain't sorry. I've had
a nightmare of a time. Oh--since I pawned that brooch--"

"Ah. Then you did pawn the brooch at Stowley?"

Jessop sat up and wiped his eyes. "Yes, I did. But I pulled my cap down
over my eyes and buttoned up my pea-jacket. I never thought old Tinker
would ha' knowed me."

"Wasn't it rather rash of you to pawn the brooch in a place where you
were well known?"

"I wasn't well known. I only come at times, and then I went away. Old
Tinker hadn't seen me more nor once or twice, and then I pulled down my
cap and--" Jessop, badly shaken, was beginning to tell the episode over
again, when Hurd stopped him.

"See here," said the detective. "You say that you are innocent?"

"I swear that I am," gasped Jessop.

"Well, then, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. My business is not
to hang innocent people. Take a glass of rum and tell me all you know,
beginning with your first meeting with Krill and running down through
the death of Lady Rachel to your last meeting in the Gwynne Street
cellar."

"And when you know all?"

"Then I'll see what is to be done."

"Will you arrest me?"

"I have arrested you. Don't make conditions with me, man," said Hurd,
with a stern face. "The night is growing late and I want to get to the
bottom of this business before we go to bed. Take some rum."

Seeing there was nothing for it but to make a clean breast, Captain
Jarvey Jessop wasted no further time in useless lamentation. He could
have smashed Hurd easily enough, even though there was the risk of being
shot. But the fracas would bring others on the scene, and Jessop knew he
could not deal with the police. Therefore, he took a stiff peg and
became quieter. In fact, when once started on his confession, he
appeared to be rather relieved.

"It's been a nightmare," said he, wiping his forehead. "I'm glad it's
come to the lawr, that I am. I met Kri