Marie ran up and shook him by the arm. “How can you say such horrid things?” “I am not talking of my own neck, Marie, but of that belonging to the man who murdered Baldwin Grison.” “Oh.” The girl stared. “I know that the poor man was murdered. Mrs. Millington—she’s the village dressmaker, and a friend of mine—told me about that crime. Louisa Grison was Mrs. Millington’s bridesmaid, and they are very much attached, and—and—but, Alan, what has the peacock to do with this horrid murder?” “Much. Baldwin Grison was murdered, as I truly believe, so that his assassin might obtain it. Now listen, dear, and be sure you don’t repeat what I say to your uncle.” “No, I won’t. Though I don’t see why you want to keep things secret from him. Go on. What is it?” Fuller quickly and concisely told her all that he had learned from Dick Latimer and Inspector Moon relative to the Rotherhithe murder, and laid great stress on the fact that Jotty the street-arab had seen the peacock of jewels. Marie listened with open mouth. “But you can’t be sure that the poor man was murdered because of the peacock,” she said when he ended. “Besides, how could he have it?” “Oh, that last is easy. Grison was your uncle’s secretary and may have taken the peacock out of revenge, knowing that Mr. Sorley was fond of jewels. On the other hand, Grison may have read the very same manuscript about which you have been telling me and might have tried to learn the secret.” “Then he could not have,” cried the girl positively, “else he would not have remained in that horrid slum. Who has the peacock now?” “The assassin.” “Who is he?” “No one knows, and no one can find out.” “But are you sure Mr. Grison was murdered because of the peacock?” asked Marie again, and doubtfully. “I think so, since the room was ransacked, and Grison had no other object of value in his miserable dwelling to tempt anyone to commit a crime.” “Well, it might be so. But why am I not to tell Uncle Ran?” “Because I wish to find the peacock and deliver the assassin of Grison to justice. If Mr. Sorley goes on the trail also he will get the peacock and will not give it to you, to whom it rightfully belongs.” “I see. Of course I shall say nothing. And Alan”—she laid her arms round her lover’s neck——“do find the peacock, and let us look for the treasure.” “And then?” questioned the young man, smiling at the bright face. “Then! then,” said Miss Inderwick, dancing away from him, “why then, you stupid creature, we can marry and defy Uncle Ran.” CHAPTER IV AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR “Now that we have finished our secret conversation,” said Fuller some time later, when the pair were returning towards the avenue, “I shall call and pay my respects to your uncle.” “I don’t think he wants to see you,” answered Marie very candidly, “he is quite aware that I love you and wishes to keep us apart.” “No doubt, my dear, but I don’t intend him to get his own way. He never can, so long as you remain true to me.”