o get her sister to come to Kensington for a chat."

"But Matilda didn't know what Maud was up to?"

"No. Matilda never guessed that Maud was guilty of two murders or
designed to strangle Sylvia. But Maud made use of her to get Deborah out
of the house, and it was Maud who made Tray send the letter asking Mrs.
Purr to come to him, so that she also might be out of the way. In fact
Maud arranged so that everyone should be away and Sylvia alone. If she
hadn't wasted time in telling her fearful story, she might have killed
my poor love. Sylvia was quite exhausted with the struggle."

"Well," said Hurd. "I went with the old woman to the address given in
that letter which Tray got written for him. He wasn't there, however, so
I might have guessed it was a do."

"But you have caught him?"

"Yes, in Hunter Street. He was loafing about there at night waiting for
Maud, and quite ignorant of her death. I made him tell me everything of
his connection with the matter. He's as bad a lot as that girl, but she
had some excuse, seeing her grandmother was a murderess; Tray is nothing
but a wicked little imp."

"Will he be hanged?"

"No, I think not. His youth will be in his favor, though I'd hang him
myself had I the chance, and so put him beyond the reach of hurting
anyone. But I expect he'll get a long sentence."

"And Mrs. Krill?"

"Mrs. Jessop you mean. Hum! I don't know. She apparently was ignorant
that Maud killed Krill, though she might have guessed it, after the way
in which Lady Rachel was murdered. I daresay she'll get off. I'm going
to see her shortly and tell her of the terrible death of her daughter."

Paul did not pursue the conversation. He was sick with the horror of the
business, and, moreover, was too anxious about Sylvia's health to take
much interest in the winding up of the case. That he left in the hands
of Hurd, and assured him that the thousand pounds reward, which Mrs.
Krill had offered, would be paid to him by Miss Norman.

Of course, Pash had known for some time that Maud was too old to have
been born of Mrs. Jessop's second marriage with Krill; but he never knew
that the widow had committed bigamy. He counted on keeping her under his
thumb by threatening to prove that Maud was not legally entitled to the
money. But when the discovery was made at Beechill and Stowley Churches
by Miss Qian, the monkey-faced lawyer could do nothing. Beecot could
have exposed him, and for his malpractices have got him