dred pounds is a great deal of money." Enid Crofton spoke in a
dull, preoccupied tone.

"Not so much as it used to be, not by any manner of means," said
Mrs. Piper shrewdly. "Think it over, Mrs. Crofton--and let us know
what you _can_ do. Perhaps it needn't be paid all in one; but best to
write to Piper next time. 'E says 'e'd like to feel you and 'im were
partners-like. I'll tell 'im I arranged for you to 'ave ten days to a
fortnight to think it over."

"Thinking won't make money," said Enid in a low voice.

"Such a beautiful young lady as yourself, Modam, can't find it difficult
to put 'er 'and on five hundred pounds," murmured Mrs. Piper, and as she
said the words there came a leering smile over her small, pursed-up
mouth.

And then, turning, she glided across the candle-lit room, and noiselessly
opening the door, she slid through it.

Enid Crofton sank farther back into her chintz-covered easy-chair. She
was trembling all over, and her hands were shaking. She had not felt so
frightened as she felt now, even during the terrible moments which had
preceded her being put in the witness-box at the inquest held on her
husband's body; and with a feeling of acute, unreasoning terror, she
asked herself how she could cope with this new, dreadful situation.

What, for instance, did that allusion to the insurance company mean? She
had had the two thousand pounds, and she had spent about a quarter of it
paying bills of which her husband had known nothing. Then the settling
in at The Trellis House had cost a great deal more than she had expected.
Of course she had some left, but five hundred pounds would make a hideous
hole in her little store.

What could the Pipers do to her? Could they do anything? The sinister
woman's repetition of Piper's curious remark, "'E says sometimes as what
'e ought to give 'imself up, and say what 'e saw," came back to her with
sickening vividness.

She looked round her, timorously. The candles on her dressing-table gave
such a poor light. How stupid of a village like Beechfield not to have
electric light! She stood up and rang for a hot-water bottle. At any rate
she might as well try to get a little beauty sleep before dressing to go
to the Tosswills.

CHAPTER XVII

Although no definite suggestion or order had been issued by Janet
Tosswill, it was understood by everyone in Old Place that special honour
was to be paid to Mrs. Crofton this evening.

Janet, when giving Betty a sli