He produced the brooch which Mrs. Pamflett had given to Phoebe on her birthday. "Yes, it's hern," said 'Melia Jane, holding out her hand for it. "Did she wear it yesterday?" "Pumping ag'in!" "My good girl, you're enough to put one out of patience. Isn't it an act of kindness to restore lost property? But one must be sure first that it gets back into the hands of the right owner. Can you remember whether Miss Farebrother wore this brooch yesterday?" "No, I can't remember. And now I come to think of it, I 'ain't seen her wear it for a long time past." "But she wore this yesterday." He produced a veil. "Yes," said 'Melia Jane, a little eagerly; "she had it on when she went away last night to--" "Why don't you finish, my good girl? When she went away last night to Parksides." He returned the brooch and the veil to his pocket. "I won't trouble you any more. Be kind enough to tell Mrs. Lethbridge that we wish to see her." "What name shall I say?" "Never mind the name; she will not know it. You can say, on particular business." Leaving the men in the passage with the street door open, 'Melia Jane went up to Phoebe's bedroom, and gave the message to her mistress, who came down at once, and asked the stranger what his business was. "It will be best for me to speak to you in private," said the man. Aunt Leth led the visitors into the parlour, and the one who had spoken all through commenced the conversation. "My name is Beeminster, and I am attached to the police force. I am engaged upon an inquiry of a serious nature, and it has, in the first place, led me to your house." Aunt Leth's heart fainted within her. Knowing nothing whatever of business, or of the pains and penalties attending the dishonouring of an acceptance for three hundred pounds, she feared that the terrible anxieties through which she had passed with respect to her husband's liability were about to be renewed. She had believed that this special difficulty had been happily tided over for a time, and her reason for this belief needs in this place a word of explanation.