"Did you like her, Miss Wedderburn?" "No!" replied the girl, coolly, "I did not; neither did she like me. There was no love lost between us. She wanted a caretaker, and I wished for a home. My staying here is a simple matter of business." "But surely you are sorry to hear of her murder?" "I am not utterly without heart, Mr. Gebb, although you seem to think so. Yes, I am sorry. I would be sorry for any one who met with so cruel a death." "Had Miss Gilmar any enemies?" asked Gebb, impatient of this fencing which kept him at a distance. "I told you she was unpopular," said Edith, slowly, "but I don't know that she had any enemies bitter enough to murder her." "Except Dean!" "Of course," she replied unmoved, "always except Mr. Dean." "Then he must have killed her." "It's not impossible," retorted Miss Wedderburn, coolly. Gebb, a rare thing for him to do, lost his temper completely. "Madame!" he cried in a rage, "will you or will you not answer me plainly?" "There is no need to raise your voice, sir. I am answering you." "But not plainly!" "What do you call plainly?" asked Edith, with a provoking smile. "You know what I mean," said Gebb, testily. "I call black black and white white; you call both a kind of grey." "I believe they are grey when mixed. However, I see what you mean, Mr. Gebb, so do not lose your temper. You wish to know why Miss Gilmar left this place, how she left it, and why I am in charge." "Yes, I shall be glad of the information." "Very good," said Edith, calmly; "then you shall hear my history." "It will be just as well for you to tell it," said Gebb, dryly; "at least, so far as concerns Miss Gilmar. Every detail is of value in connection with this case. Please go on"--and he took out pencil and pocket-book. "I am an orphan," said Miss Wedderburn, taking no notice of this action, "as I lost my parents some five years ago. I was then eighteen years of age and at a school in Canterbury, but on the death of my father and mother I was unable to continue my education. Therefore, as I had no parents, no friends, and no money, I was in anything but a pleasant position." "Did your father leave no money?" inquired Gebb, with sympathy.