"You shall have more law than you bargain for," said Gerald coldly. "I can promise you that. Go on, Mrs. Geary, tell your story." She placed her big arms akimbo, and spoke steadily. "When Geary went after you on that night, sir, I knew he was up to some deviltry, since he almost stripped himself and used all the oil in the cruet stand to rub over himself. I spoke to the Major--that is, I went in to speak to him here, and ask what Geary was up to. But the Major was gone." "Gone?" echoed Gerald. "Then he went immediately after I left?" "Not exactly, sir. It was quite an hour after Adonis followed you that I came in here. Then Adonis came back wounded, and I bound up his arm. He asked if his old master was in, and when he heard that the Major had gone out he followed." "Followed where?" "I followed to the Pixy's House," said Adonis hoarsely, "you may as well know dat what I know, sah. I hab noting to do wid de murder. I went ober de hills for de Major, and I found him coming back----" "At what time was that?" "After midnight," cried Mrs. Geary, "it was two o'clock before the Major and Adonis returned." "And Bellaria was murdered--according to the medical evidence--about midnight," murmured Haskins. "So you went to the Pixy's House?" "No, sah, I no go dere. I meet de Major coming back. He say dat he had gone to see if you, sah, had been visitin' de house, after you went from here. Den I tole him dat I tried to kill you, for I hear that you wished to make trouble for de Major. De Major berry angry wid me, and we come home. Den, in the morning, we hear ob de murder." "Didn't the Major tell you that he had found Bellaria stabbed?" "No, sah. Him say noting: I ask noting. Dat's all." "If Major Rebb was in the Pixy's House at midnight, he either stabbed Bellaria himself, or he knows who stabbed her," said Gerald deliberately, and rose. "Is this all you have to tell me?" "Dat all," growled the man sullenly. "But de Major did not kill. Bellaria asked for my big knife, 'cause she was feared." "Did you know what she feared?" "No, sah. De Major, he know, but he no tell me." There was nothing to be done but to wait and see Rebb, so as to question him on this unexpected information, which Mrs. Geary had forced her cowed husband to give. Haskins slipped a sovereign into the woman's hand, and walked to the door. "If you follow me again to knife me, Adonis," he remarked, "remember I have a revolver." The negro pointed to his useless right arm. "I can do noting," he said, and his eyes flashed as he added: "I should like to." Mrs. Geary pushed past her husband. "No, you can do nothing with that arm. It has beaten me often enough. Geary," she pointed a finger at him, "now I leave your house with my children; this very moment I leave. I shall never see you again." "You have nowhere to go, you fool gal."