Mrs. Muggeridge pantingly, with many interpolations, told her tale. She had a country girl as servant, "Sar’ Ann, as good a gal as ever lived." Still, it seemed that Sar’ Ann was human, and could err. The day after the murder, "as they did call it, and as some calls it now, in spite of that there crowner, Sar’ Ann was took with hysterics, and giv’ warnin’." "Which I took. As I says to Sar’ Ann, ’I don’t want any one ’ere as ain’t comfortable.’ And she was right down awful, that girl was. One night I took and made ’er tell me what it was, and I’m goin’ to tell you, now! For the very mornin’ after--I suppose because I told her what she said to me she might have to tell to a Judge and jury, she ran away. She got the milkman to give a lift to her box, and when I got up, expectin’ to find the kettle boilin’, she was off and away into space--and there she is--like one of them Leonines as they talk of, but we never sees, Miss Anerley! It’ll take a detective to find her, if so be as she should be called up to say what she says to me!" CHAPTER XXVII Mrs. Muggeridge paused, and had a fit of coughing. Vera waited with the patience which seemed part of her dogged resolve to avenge Victor’s death. "Yes?" she said mildly, as Mrs. Muggeridge wiped her eyes. "Where was I? Oh! About Sar’ Ann making tracks like that. Well, if I tell you what she told me, and ease my conscience like, will you give me your word, Miss Anerley, as no harm shall come to the girl? Poor, unfortunate girl! I’m glad as it wasn’t me! You promise? Well, it was like this: My first-floor front, what corresponds with yours where your gentleman lodges what’s been away for his Ma’s funeral, is occupied by a gent in the City, what leaves a lot of vallables about as I don’t harf like having the charge of. So, when I’m goin’ out, I locks up his room, if so be as ’e ain’t at ’ome, and puts the key where he knows how to find it. Now, we was all out except Sar’ Ann the night of the murd--oh, well, the night Mr. Musser died: I was at the horspital entertainment along with the rest. So what must my lady needs do, but get that key--sly puss! she must have watched and found out where I put it--and go up into Mr. Marston’s room to fiddle about with his things. I believe she spent the evenin’ there. At all events, when she was a-sitting at the window, peepin’ out, she sees a tall lady come along, and disappear into your house. She did think it queer, knowin’ or suspectin’ as you was all out! So she listened, and small blame to ’er, as I told the girl! She listens--and she swore to me she could ’ear two voices in the next room, a man’s and a woman’s. She sat there listenin’ for a hour or more after dark, and they was talkin’--sometimes loud--but she couldn’t distinguish the words. And then there was quiet-like, and she wondered what had become of ’em--so she was peerin’ out of window when out comes the tall lady, shuts the door, and makes off.