"You mean Spolger's house?" "Yes! He sees Monsieur le Pilule to speak of his love for Mees Mar-rson. When he returns to this pension, he says: 'It is well; I go to Jarlcesterre'--no more. Then my friend, the brave Sebastian, goes to Jarlcesterre, and I see him not more." "An interview between Melstane and Spolger could hardly have been satisfactory," said Fanks, looking keenly at the Frenchman. "Eh, monsieur, I know nothing of that," answered Judas, with his guileless look. "Why did Melstane go to Jarlchester, of all places in the world?" "I have told monsieur everything," said Monsieur Cuinaud, with oily politeness. "Humph! I'm doubtful of that," muttered Fanks, thoughtfully. "And is that all you know?" "Eh! what would you?" "It doesn't throw any light on the murder." "Wait, monsieur," said Judas, earnestly, "a moment. One night before my friend went away, Mees Var-rlins stop her carriage at the shop. She comes in to me and says: 'I cannot get a stamp of postage. Have you a stamp of postage?' I say 'yes,' and give her a stamp of postage. She places the stamp of postage on a letter, and goes away in the carriage. I see the letter." "And the name on the letter?" "Monsieur Roger Axton, Jarlcesterre," said Judas, quietly; "now! eh! you see?" "I see nothing," replied Fanks, bluntly. "Miss Varlins wrote to Axton at Jarlchester. What of that? I know Axton was at Jarlchester; I saw him there." "Is that so?" said Monsieur Judas, eagerly; "then, behold, monsieur! Axton is at Jarlcesterre; Melstane goes down also to Jarlcesterre. Before he goes," pursued Judas, bending forward and speaking in a whisper, "he buy pills of morphia! eh! is that not so? My friend and Axton are enemies. At Jarlcesterre they meet; the poor Melstane dies of morphia! What would you?" "Do you mean to say that Roger Axton murdered Melstane?" cried Fanks, trying to control himself. Monsieur Judas spread out his hands once more. "I say nothing, monsieur. But because of Miss Mar-rson they fight--they fight desperate. Axton has the pills of morphia. Melstane dies of the pills of morphia! But no, I say nothing." "I think you've said quite enough," retorted Fanks, coldly. "I don't believe what you say." "Monsieur!" "Don't ruffle your feathers, Monsieur Guinaud; I mean what I say, and in order to prove it, I'll ask Roger Axton to come down here and give his version of the story." "He can but say what I declare." "That's a matter of opinion." "Monsieur?" "Sir." The two men had risen to their feet, and were standing opposite to one another; Fanks cold and scornful, Judas visibly agitated, with his eyes narrowed down into a dangerous expression. He looked like a snake preparing for a spring, and Fanks was on his guard; but at length, with a hissing laugh, Judas stepped back and bowed submissively. "Let us not fight, I pray you, monsieur," he said, gently; "when Monsieur Axton comes you will see that I speak truly."