"This here," replied Pickard. "On that night--t' twenty-third November--Parrawhite came into t' _Green Man_ at about, happen, half-past eight. He come into t' little private parlour to me, bold as brass--as indeed, he allers wor. 'Ye're a nice un!' I says. 'I've written yer three letters durin' t' last week, and ye've nivver answered one o' 'em!' 'I've come to answer i' person,' he says. 'There's nobbut one answer I want,' says I. 'Wheer's my money?' 'Now then, be quiet a bit,' he says. 'You shall have your money before the evening's over,' he says. 'Or, if not, as soon as t' banks is open tomorrow mornin',' he says. 'Wheer's it coomin' from?' says I. 'Now, never you mind,' he says. 'It's safe!' 'I don't believe a word you're sayin',' says I. 'Ye're havin' me for t' mug!--that's about it.' An' I went on so at him, 'at i' t' end he tell'd me 'at he wor presently goin' to meet Pratt, and 'at he could get t' brass out o' Pratt an' as much more as iwer he liked to ax for. Well, I don't believe that theer, and I said so. 'What brass has Pratt?' says I. 'Pratt's nowt but a clerk, wi' happen three or four pound a week!' 'That's all you know,' he says. 'Pratt's become a gold mine, and I'm going to dig in it a bit. What's it matter to you,' he says, 'so long as you get your brass?' Well, of course, that wor true enough--all 'at I wanted just then were to handle my brass. And I tell'd him so. 'I'll brek thy neck, Parrawhite,' I says, 'if thou doesn't bring me that theer money eyther to-night or t' first thing tomorrow--so now!' 'Don't talk rot!' he says. 'I've told you!' And he had money wi' him then--'nough to pay for drinks and cigars, any road, and we had a drink or two, and a smoke or two, and then he went out, sayin' he wor goin' to meet Pratt, and he'd be back at my place before closin' time wi' either t' cash or what 'ud be as good. An' I waited--and waited after closin' time, an' all. But I've nivver seen Parrawhite from that day to this---nor heerd tell on him neither!" Eldrick and Byner looked at each other for a moment. Then the solicitor spoke--quietly and with a significance which the agent understood. "Do you want to ask Mr. Pickard any questions?" he said. Byner nodded and turned to the landlord. "Did Parrawhite tell you where he was going to meet Pratt?" he asked. "He did," replied Pickard. "Near Pratt's lodgin' place." "Did--or does--Pratt live near you, then?" "Closish by--happen ten minutes' walk. There's few o' houses--a sort o' terrace, like, on t' edge o' what they call Whitcliffe Moor. Pratt lodged--lodges now for all I know to t' contrary--i' one o' them." "Did Parrawhite give you any idea that he was going to the house in which Pratt lodged?" "No! He were not goin' to t' house. I know he worn't. He tell'd me 'at he'd a good idea what time Pratt 'ud be home, 'cause he knew where he was that evening and he were goin' to meet him just afore Pratt got to his place. I know where he'd meet him."