Mrs. Presk's knees gave way, and she was fain to sit down--as far away from the dead body as possible however. "It's past believing," she moaned, rocking herself to and fro. "Lord! what an escape 'Tilda and me's had from being strangulated. Ugh!" she shuddered, "look at that poor soul, sir, ain't it enough to freeze your blood." "Did it freeze yours, that you ran out of the room?" asked Gebb, hoping to take her unawares. "No! a'wasn't that!" whispered Mrs. Presk, turning pale, "but I was afeard!" "Of what?" asked the detective, rather puzzled. "Of you, sir," was the unexpected reply. "Indeed! then you know something about the matter?" "Yes!" issued from the landlady's pale lips, "I--I noticed something." "What did you notice?" "I daren't tell you." "You must!" Mrs. Presk rose and hastily made for the door. Before she could reach it Gebb had placed his back against it. "You don't leave this room until I know what you are hiding." "I'm hiding nothing!" burst out Mrs. Presk, "haven't you got eyes?" She pointed towards the dead woman. "Look!" she cried "Look!" CHAPTER III A WOMAN WITHOUT A PAST As desired, Gebb looked at the gaily decked figure in the chair, and tried to find out what Mrs. Presk meant. "Well, I'm looking," he said at length, "but I'm blest if I can see anything." "Of course you can't!" cried the landlady, hysterically triumphant, "'cause they ain't there!" "What aren't there?" "The diamonds!" "Diamonds!" repeated Gebb, with a start, as he noted that the dead woman wore no jewellery. "Had she diamonds?" "I should think she had!" said Mrs. Presk, sitting down again. "Stars for her hair, rings, bracelets, and the loveliest necklace you ever saw--just like dewdrops with the sun on them. She wore her jewellery every night, and all to eat her chop. I saw them diamonds on her afore I went to the lecture." "And when you came back they were gone." "Every one of them," replied Mrs. Presk, defiantly, "and when I noticed it--for, to own up, Mr. Gebb, I didn't notice they were gone till I was here with you talking about her dress--but when I did notice, I ran out of the room 'cause I was a-feared you might say 'Tilda and I stole 'em." "Nonsense! Why should I say that?" "Oh, there ain't no tellings," said Mrs. Presk, with a toss of her head. "Was that why you made all that howling?" "Yes, it was, sir; and I ran out to the kitchen to ask 'Tilda if she had noticed if the diamonds were gone when we came in first; for I was that flurried I didn't look for 'em." "And does 'Tilda say the diamonds were gone?" "Yes! I dessay the murdering villain who killed the poor dear stole 'em. I wish I had the hanging of him." "Oh, you may assist me to put the rope round his neck," said Gebb. "Well, Mrs. Presk, I'll come and see you to-morrow, and you must tell me all you know about this woman. In the mean time, I think I hear the doctor coming."