found himself in an elegantly-furnished drawing-room bowing before the
silent and sedate daughter.

"You wish to see my mother," said Maud, with her eternal smile. "She
will be down in a few minutes."

"I await her convenience," said Hurd, admiring the handsome looks of the
young woman, although he plainly saw that she was--as he phrased it--"no
chicken."

After a few words Miss Krill rang the bell. "I want these things taken
away," she said, pointing to a workbasket and some millinery with which
she had been engaged when Hurd was announced, "then I shall leave you to
speak to my mother."

The detective wondered if she was too fine a lady to remove these things
herself, but his surprise ceased when the door opened and no less a
person than Matilda Junk appeared. He guessed at once that the landlady
of "The Red Pig" had come up to see her sister and had related details
about her visitor. Probably Mrs. Krill guessed that Hurd had been asking
questions, and Matilda had been introduced to see if he was the man. He
became certain of this when Miss Junk threw up her hands. "The
commercial gent," she exclaimed.

"Oh, no," said Maud, smiling smoothly. "This is Mr. Hurd, the detective,
who is searching for the assassin of my dear father."

"Lor,'" said Matilda, growing red. "And he's the man as came to ask
questions at the 'otel. I do call it bold of you, Mister Policeman."

"Well," said Hurd, swinging his hat lazily, and looking from one to the
other, quite taking in the situation, "you answered very few of my
questions, so that is all right."

"Why did you go down to Christchurch?" asked Miss Krill.

"If I have to find out who killed your father," said Hurd, with an
accent on the word "father," "it was necessary that I should learn about
his past life as Lemuel Krill."

"My mother could have informed you, sir."

"I guessed as much, and, as Miss Junk would not speak, I have come to
question Mrs. Krill. Ah, here she is." Hurd rose and bowed. "I am glad
to see you, madam."

Mrs. Krill, who was as plump and smiling and smooth-faced and severe as
ever, bowed and rubbed her white hands together. At a sign from Maud,
Matilda gathered up the fancy work and went out of the room with many
backward glances. These were mostly indignant, for she was angry at
Hurd's deception. "Do you wish my daughter to stay?" asked Mrs. Krill,
smoothly.

"That is as she pleases," said the detective.

"No, thank you, mother," said Maud,