“No, I’m blessed if he could――leastways, that’s what I’ve heerd. Vell, vot does the Badger do but he whips out his knife, and stabs t’other chap to the heart? Then the gal comes at him, and clutches hold of his throat. He managed to shake her off, but you see he left a something behind――the handkercher he wore round his neck and the knife.” “What has that to do with the affair at Oakfield House?” “Ah! it’s a deal to do wi’ it――it has. You shall hear. The last part on it is like a play――better nor any play, that’s what it is. Yer see, as I said afore, the Badger gets clean away, a reward is offered by Guv’nment, likewise a reward by the old bloke――him as was robbed and knocked down in the passage. The bobbies set to work, the whole biling on ’em, but they never got the blind side of the old un. Vell, this is six year ago――aye, more than six year it is now, and a durin’ them six years the gal has had but one thought――this was to ketch the murderer of her love, and she’s a done it, Charlie――there aint no mistake about that ’ere――she done it. The Badger, like a fool, fired a pistol at random when he were in that bedroom. The gal sees his face by the pistol’s flash, and she shoots him down――that’s what she does.” “Of course we know he was shot, but I did not know who by.” “By the gal, I tell yer. She’s been afore the magistrates, and has sworn to him like anythink, and she means to hang him――leastways, it won’t be any fault of her’s if he doesn’t swing. Ah! it’s all up with the Badger,” said Cooney, with a sigh, at the same time draining off the liquor left in his glass. “It’s a bad bisness――a precious bad bisness, there aint no manner o’ doubt on’t.” “It is, indeed,” returned Peace; “but it is a lesson to both of us――a lesson I hope you will profit by.” “Oh, there aint no call for you to preach, or to try and make me better nor I am. But I am sorry for the old un――he was always square enough with me――always.” “I tell you, Cooney, sadly and seriously, that if you don’t intend to profit by the warning already given to both of us, I shall; and I advise you to follow my example.” “Oh, I’ll profit by it one way or t’other; I sed as how it ed come to this sooner or later, he was so rash, so headstrong. Didn’t I always say that I liked to do business in a quiet sort o’ way? Answer me that.” “I admit you did,” said Peace in a conciliatory tone of voice. “But now we must part――I durst not stay any longer,” he added rising from his seat. “Are yer agoin’?” “Yes, you don’t want anything more of me.” “No, not a morsel. I’m thankful enough for what yer have given me――but I say, Charlie, you’re a knockin’ up a tidy business in the town, aint yer?” “Oh no; but very middling at present. What are your movements?” “I leave to-morrow morning――and so good-bye and good luck to yer.” The two companions in crime shook hands and parted.