"Come in! come in! I wish to speak to you," she said hurriedly, when he stepped up to the white palings; and she glanced right and left, to be sure that no curious eyes were on her. Durgo stared and frowned, as education in a world-famous University had not quite eradicated his contempt for women. However, when Bella ran inside again, and stood beckoning him in the passage, he resolved to enter, if only to learn why she acted in this bold way. So tall was Durgo, and so low the door, that he had to stoop considerably to enter, and when in the little drawing-room he bulked hugely as Gulliver in the Lilliputian temple. "What is it, missy?" asked Durgo roughly, for he was not inclined to waste his time in saying pretty nothings to this Englishwoman, when so much was at stake. "I cannot stay here; I am busy." "I wish to help you," said Bella, going straight to the point. "In what way?" Durgo stared at her peremptory tone. "I wish to help you on condition that you help me." "In what way?" he asked again, and sat down on a chair, which creaked under his mighty weight. "Listen," said Bella, speaking very slowly, and with her eyes on his strong, black face. "You are not of my colour or race, yet I am going to trust you, as Cyril told me all about you. Besides, we are both working for the same end--that is, we both wish to find Edwin Lister. Cyril told me what Mrs. Tunks discovered." "He had no right," frowned Durgo; "I want no women----" "Don't despise women," said Bella drily, "for you may need the help of one woman, and she is my own self. You know that I am supposed to be Captain Huxham's daughter?" "Supposed to be?" Durgo noted the way she placed her words at once, which said much for his powers of observation, and the quick working of his brain. "Yes, Silas Pence, the preacher----" "I know him, missy. Go on." "Loves me," continued Bella, with a blush; "and to marry me he would stop at nothing. Last night he declared that I was not the daughter of Captain Huxham, and that Captain Huxham had told him as much." "Do you believe that?" "Yes. That is, I believe I am not Captain Huxham's daughter, since the money was not left to me. But I do not believe that Captain Huxham told this to Silas Pence. I believe," Bella bent forward, "that Mr. Pence is concerned in this murder, and stole certain papers, which revealed the truth." Durgo's eyes flashed. He saw at once the value of such information. "Can you prove this?" he asked in his throaty tones. "That's just where it is," she answered quickly. "I wish _you_ to prove it." "How can I do that?" "Question Mr. Pence, and make him answer. Force him, in whatever way you like, to show how he actually obtained the information. If he stole the papers stating the fact--and this I believe--he must have been in the room where the murder was committed some hour during that night. If so, he must have seen Edwin Lister, and must know where he is."