"I can't understand it!" she exclaimed. "I know that these rings, and those in that tray at the police-station, are part of old stock that my grandfather had when he came here. He used to have a shop, years ago, in the City--I'm not quite sure where, exactly--and this is part of the stock he brought from it. But, how could Mr. Lauriston's rings bear those marks? Because, from what I know of the trade, those are private marks--my grandfather's private marks!" "Well, just so--and you can imagine what our people are inclined to say about it," said the detective. "They say now that the two rings which Lauriston claims never were his nor his mother's, but that he stole them out of your grandfather's tray. They're fixed on that, now." "What will they do?" asked Zillah, anxiously. "Is he in danger?" Ayscough gave her a knowing look. "Between you and me," he said, lowering his voice to a whisper, "I came around here privately--on my own hook, you know. I should be sorry if this really is fixed on the young fellow--there's a mystery, but it may be cleared up. Now, he's gone off to find somebody who can prove that those rings really were his mother's. You, no doubt, know where he's gone?" "Yes--but I'm not going to tell," said Zillah firmly. "Don't ask me!" "Quite right--I don't want to know myself," answered Ayscough. "And you'll probably have an idea when he's coming back? All right--take a tip from me. Keep him out of the way a bit--stop him from coming into this district. Let him know all about those marks--and if he can clear that up, well and good. You understand?--and of course, all this is between you and me." "You're very good, Mr. Ayscough," replied Zillah, warmly. "I won't forget your kindness. And I'm certain this about the marks can be cleared up--but I don't know how!" "Well--do as I say," said the detective. "Just give the tip to your cousin Melky, and to that young Scotch gentleman--let 'em keep Lauriston out of the way for a few days. In the meantime--this is a very queer case!--something may happen that'll fix the guilt on somebody else--conclusively. I've my own ideas and opinions--but we shall see. Maybe we shall see a lot--and everybody'll be more astonished than they're thinking for." With this dark and sinister hint, Ayscough went away, and Zillah took the rings back to the shop, and locked them up again. And then she sat down to wait for Mrs. Goldmark--and to think. She had never doubted Lauriston's story for one moment, and she did not doubt it now. But she was quick to see the serious significance of what the detective had just told her and she realized that action must be taken on the lines he had suggested. And so, having made herself ready for going out, she excused herself to Mrs. Goldmark when that good lady returned, and without saying anything to her as to the nature of her errand, hurried round to Star Street, to find Melky Rubinstein and tell him of the new development.