Zillah replied that Mrs. Goldmark was worthy of entire confidence, and an old friend, and Melky presently returning with her, Purdie suggested they should all sit down and talk--informally and in strict privacy. "You know why I'm concerning myself in this?" he said, looking round at his three companions. "I'm anxious that Andie Lauriston should be fully and entirely cleared! I've great faith in him--he's beginning what I believe will be a successful career, and it would be a terrible thing if any suspicion rested on him. So I want, for his sake, to thoroughly clear up this mystery about your relative's death." "Mister!" said Melky, in his most solemn tones. "Speaking for my cousin there, and myself, there ain't nothing what we wouldn't do to clear Mr. Lauriston! We ain't never had one moment's suspicion of him from the first, knowing the young fellow as we do. So we're with you in that matter, ain't we, Zillah?" "Mr. Purdie feels sure of that," agreed Zillah, with a glance at Lauriston's old schoolmate. "There's no need to answer him, Melky." "I am sure!" said Purdie. "So--let's put our wits together--we'll consider the question of approaching the police when we've talked amongst ourselves. Now--I want to ask you some very private questions. They spring out of that rare book there. There's no doubt that book belongs to Mr. Levendale. Do either of you know if Mr. Levendale had any business relations with the late Mr. Rubinstein?" Zillah shook her head. "None!--that I know of," she answered. "I've helped my grandfather in this business for some time. I never heard him mention Mr. Levendale. Mr. Levendale never came here, certainly." Melky shook his head, too. "When Mr. Ayscough, and Mr. Lauriston, and me went round to Sussex Square, to see Mr. Levendale about that advertisement for his book," he remarked, "he said he'd never heard of Daniel Multenius. That's a fact, mister!" "Had Mr. Multenius any private business relations of which he didn't tell you?" asked Purdie, turning to Zillah. "He might have had," admitted Zillah. "He was out a good deal. I don't know what he might do when he went out. He was--close. We--it's no use denying it--we don't know all about it. His solicitor's making some enquiries--I expect him here, any time, today." "It comes to this," observed Purdie. "Your grandfather met his death by violence, the man who attacked him came in here during your absence. The question I want to get solved is--was the man who undoubtedly left that book here the guilty man? If so--who is he?" Melky suddenly broke the silence which followed upon this question.