to keep the business of Miss Norman, supposing
the money--as he hinted might be the case through his assistance--came
back to her; and this might be used as a means to make him speak out.
Hurd was now pretty sure that Mrs. Krill was the guilty person.

"She knew Pash through Hay," argued the detective, while thinking over
the case, "and undoubtedly came to see him before Norman's death, so
that Pash might suggest ways and means of getting the better of the old
man by means of the bigamy business. Mrs. Krill was in the Chancery Lane
office when the brooch left by Tray was on the table, and Mrs. Krill,
anxious to get it, no doubt slipped it into her pocket when Pash was
talking to his clerk in the outer room. Then I expect she decided to
punish her husband by fastening his lips together as he had done those
of her daughter twenty and more years ago. I can't exactly see why she
strangled him," mused Hurd, "as she could have got the money without
proceeding to such an extreme measure. But the man's dead, and she
killed him sure enough. Now, I'll get a warrant out and arrest her
straight away. There's quite enough evidence to justify her being taken
in charge. Hum! I wonder if she made use of that young devil of a Tray
in any way? Well," he rose and stretched himself, "I may force her to
speak now that she is in a corner."

Having made up his mind Hurd went to work at once, and the next day,
late in the afternoon, he was driving in a cab to No. 32A Hunter Street,
Kensington, with the warrant in his pocket. He also had with him a
letter which he had received from Miss Qian, and written from Beechill
in Buckinghamshire. Aurora had made good use of her time and had learned
a number of facts connected with Mrs. Krill's early life which Hurd
thought would prove of interest to the woman. In one way and another the
case was becoming plain and clear, and the detective made sure that he
would gain the reward. The irony of the thing was, that Mrs. Krill,
with a view to throwing dust in the eyes of the law, had offered a bribe
of one thousand pounds for the discovery of the assassin. She little
thought when doing so that she was weaving a rope for her own neck.

Hurd had brought a plain-clothes policeman with him, and this man
remained outside in a hansom while Hurd rang the bell. In a few minutes
the door was opened and the detective sent up his card. Mrs. Krill
proved to be at home and consented to receive him, so, shortly, the man