"The boy said Gabb," retorted Basson, returning to his chair. "He was thinking of his own gift, maybe;" and he laughed heartily at his rather feeble joke. "Well, Mr. Gebb, have you brought me a brief?" "No," said Gebb, smiling, for the man's good humour was infectious. "I'm in a different branch of the law to a solicitor. I don't deal in briefs so much as in handcuffs." "Ah! You are a detective. A Bow Street Runner." "Yes. In charge of the Grangebury murder case." "Just so!" said Basson, with a nod, and looking grave. "I read about it in the papers; and now I remember, your name was mentioned. Well, and have you caught the blackguard who murdered the poor woman?" "Not yet I've come to see if you can help me." "I?" said Basson, much amused. "You've come to the wrong shop, then. How should I know the assassin?" "If I can believe Mr. Alder, you knew him once," was Gebb's reply. "Ah! So Alder has been speaking to you about me. He thinks that Dean is guilty, and I was Dean's counsel in that Kirkstone case. Is it that you are driving at, Mr. Gebb?" "It just is. Do you believe that Dean is guilty?" Basson did not reply immediately. He lighted a German pipe of porcelain, and, blowing out the match, placed it in a little pile which lay near the inkstand. Then he puffed out a cloud of smoke, and through it looked at his visitor. "Why do you ask me?" he demanded abruptly. "I want your opinion. I know from Mr. Alder that you did not believe Dean guilty of Kirkstone's murder." "No. That I did not," rejoined Basson, hastily. "No more than I believe Mr. Ferris--poor boy--guilty of this one. I was coming to tell you that he was at my lecture on the night of the murder, but Alder said he would speak to you about it. Did he?" Gebb nodded. "I know that Ferris is innocent, but he had the necklace in his possession, and that is a suspicious circumstance." "I saw about that in the papers," said Basson, nodding. "Well, and how does he say the necklace came into his hands?" "He declines to tell me." "Does he? With his neck in the noose, so to speak." "Precisely, Mr. Basson; he did not even confess his presence at your lecture. He said he was innocent, and for the rest held his tongue." Basson stared, and pressed the tobacco in the pipe bowl with his little finger. "Now, that's queer," he said. "Why does he act in this way?" "I think he wishes to shield his father." "I didn't know he had a father. Thought his father was dead." "As good as dead, I am afraid. Dean is his father." "What!" Basson's pipe fell out of his hands, and he looked at Gebb in amazement. "Dean, the man I defended, Ferris's father?" "Yes, Ferris lived with some relations, who changed his name when his father was condemned. Now, Mr. Basson, I don't believe Dean is guilty of this second murder; but on no other ground than that he did kill the woman, and gave Ferris the necklace to pawn, can I account for the young man's silence."