heard of her," said the detective, remembering; "she's been up
heaps of times."

"And grows no better," wailed Mrs. Purr, bibulously, for she had been
strengthening herself for the interview with frequent libations of gin.
"Oh, what a thing strong drink is, sir! But Granny Clump, bein' ill with
the lungses, and me bein' 'elpful in sich cases, 'aving bin a nuss, when
young, as I won't deceive you by denying, called on me to be a good
Smart 'un. And I wos, though she swore awful, saying she wanted gin an'
jellies, an' could 'ave 'ad them, if that limb--so did she name Tray,
gentlemen both--'ad only 'anded to 'er the rich brooch he brought 'ome,
just afore he went to earn a decent livin' at the lawr orfice, which 'is
name is Pash--"

"Ha," said Hurd, thoughtfully, "I'll see the boy."

"You can see him now," said Beecot, unexpectedly. "When I learned this
from Mrs. Purr and knew you were coming, I sent a message to Pash's
office for the boy. He came up quite unsuspectingly, but he refused to
speak. I shut him up in a back room, and Deborah has been watching
him--"

"An' the languige of that blessed limb!" exclaimed Mrs. Purr, raising
her hands.

"Bring him in," said Hurd. "Miss Norman, if the boy uses bad language,
you needn't stay."

Sylvia, having heard what Tray could do in this way, needed no further
hint. She left the room gladly, and told Deborah to bring along her
prisoner. Shortly, the noise of kicking and strong language was heard
coming nearer, and Deborah, with a red face and a firm mouth, appeared
at the door, holding aloft a small boy who was black in the face with
rage. "There," said Deborah, flinging Tray in a heap at the detective's
feet, "if me an' Bart 'ave sich a brat, I 'ope he dies in his cradle,
instead of growing to a galler's thief in th' use of words which make me
shudder, let alone my pretty. Ugh!" she shook her fist at Tray. "You Old
Bailey viper, though young at that."

"Here," said Tray, rising, much dishevelled, but with a white face, "let
me go. I'll 'ave the lawr of you."

"I'll attend to that, my lad," said Hurd, dryly. "Now, then, where did
you get that brooch?"

"Sha'n't tell," snapped the boy, and put his tongue out.

Hurd gave him a smack with an open hand on the side of his face, and
Master Clump began to blubber.

"Assalting me--oh, won't you ketch it," he raged in his puny wrath. "My
master's a law-cove, and he'll 'ave y' up before the beak."

"You answer my questions