Mr. White Lush: Let me impress upon you that this letter might be an important link in the case. It is right and proper that the police should be anxious about it. Do you swear positively that you have lost it? Witness: I do, sir. Mr. White Lush: How did it happen? Witness: It were a fortnight after the body was found in No. 119. I 'ad the letter in my 'and, and was lookin' at it. I laid it down on the kitchen table, and went to answer the street door. When I come back the letter was gone. Mr. White Lush: Was any person in the kitchen when you left it? Witness: Not as I am aware on, sir. There was a 'igh wind on, and I left the kitchen door open, and when I come back I noticed a blaze in the fire, as though a bit of paper had been blown into it. Mr. White Lush: Then your presumption is that the letter is burnt? Witness: It air, sir. Mr. White Lush: You have searched for it since? Witness: I've 'unted 'igh and low, sir, without ever settin' eyes on it. CHAPTER IV. THE EXAMINATION OF MRS. PREEDY, CONTINUED FROM THE "EVENING MOON." Mr. White Lush: You are quite confident in your own mind that the letter is no longer in existence. Witness: I can't swear to that, sir. Mr. White Lush: You swear that you know nothing of it whatever? Witness: Yes, sir. Mr. White Lush: Now, what were the contents of the letter? Witness: It were to inform me that the droring-rooms had bolted---- Magistrate: Bolted? Witness: Run away, and wasn't coming back, and that I might 'elp myself to what was in the trunk to pay my bill. Mr. White Lush: Did you help yourself? Witness: The meanness! I went up to the droring-room, and opened the trunk. Mr. White Lush: Was it locked? Witness: It were, sir. Mr. White Lush: How did you open it? Witness: With a poker. Mr. White Lush: What did you find in it? Witness: Bricks. Mr. White Lush: Nothing else? Witness: Not a blessed thing. Mr. White Lush: What occurred then? Witness: I were overcome with a 'orrid suspicion. Mr. White Lush: Concerning what? Witness: My second floorer. Magistrate: Is that a poetical image, Mr. Lush? Mr. White Lush (smiling): I really cannot say. This is a case with very little poetry in it. (To witness): Your second floorer? Do you mean your tenant on the second floor? Witness: That were my meaning, sir. Mr. White Lush: And acting on your horrid suspicion, you---- Witness: Run up stairs as fast as my legs would carry me. Mr. White Lush: What did you discover? That your second floorer had run away? Witness (very solemnly): He 'ad, sir. Mr. White Lush: Did you open his trunk? Witness: I did, sir. Magistrate: With your universal key--the poker? Witness: Yes, sir. Mr. White Lush: That trunk, surely, was not also full of bricks? Witness: I am sorry to inform you, sir, it were. Magistrate: A singular coincidence.