struck off the
rolls; but he simply punished him by taking away Sylvia's business and
giving it to Ford. That enterprising young solicitor speedily placed
the monetary affairs on a proper basis and saw that Sylvia was properly
reinstated in her rights. Seeing that she was the only child and legal
heiress of Krill, this was not difficult. The two women who had
illegally secured possession of the money had spent a great deal in a
very wasteful manner, but the dead man's investments were so excellent
and judicious that Sylvia lost comparatively little, and became
possessed of nearly five thousand a year, with a prospect of her income
increasing. But she was too ill to appreciate this good fortune. The
case got into the papers, and everyone was astonished at the strange
sequel to the Gwynne Street mystery. Beecot senior, reading the papers,
learned that Sylvia was once more an heiress, and forthwith held out an
olive branch to Paul. Moreover, the frantic old gentleman, as Deborah
called him, really began to feel his years, and to feel also that he had
treated his only son rather harshly. So he magnanimously offered to
forgive Paul on no conditions whatsoever. For the sake of his mother,
the young man buried the past and went down to be received in a stately
manner by his father, and with joyful tears by his mother. Also he was
most anxious to hear details of the case which had not been made public.
Paul told him everything, and Beecot senior snorted with rage. The
recital proved too much for Mrs. Beecot, who retired as usual to bed and
fortified herself with sal volatile; but Paul and his respected parent
sat up till late discussing the matter.

"And now, sir," said Beecot senior, grasping the stem of his wine glass,
as though he intended to hurl it at his son, "let us gather up the
threads of this infamous case. This atrocious woman who tried to
strangle your future wife?"

"She has been buried quietly. Her mother was at the funeral and so was
the father."

"A pretty pair," gobbled the turkey-cock, growing red. "I suppose the
Government will hang the pair?"

"No. Captain Jessop can't be touched as he had nothing to do with the
murder, and Sylvia and myself are not going to prosecute him for his
attempt to get the jewels from Pash."

"Then you ought to. It's a duty you owe to society."

Paul shook his head. "I think it best to leave things as they are,
father," he said mildly, "especially as Mrs. Jessop, much broken