"The chaps that writes takes their ideas from real life, Jemima. But I know what I'm goin' to do." "What is it, Jerry? Sit in to your tea." P.O. Slade hitched up his chair to the table, and loosened his belt the better to enjoy his breakfast. "I'm goin' to see that Mr. Brand, the missionary." "Why, Jerry, what's 'e got to do with it?" "I've been makin' inquiries on my own hook," said Slade, nodding; "and I've found out from some of those Bethesda folk as Mr. Brand, was a-goin' to take that nigger girl back to her island. Now's she's murdered, he won't like it. 'Sides," added Jeremiah, his mouth full of bread-and-butter, "Mr. Brand, he don't like the parson." "What good does that do?" "Good? You never will read to improve your mind, Jemima. Why, don't the book say as the detective always gets 'old of the enemy of the cove as done the crime?" "But Mr. Johnson ain't done it, you fool! Lor'!" suddenly enlightened, "p'r'aps it is 'im!" Jeremiah nodded three times, and drank his cup to the dregs. "And don't you go talkin' about it, neither; or you'll never get to Poldew. D'ye 'ear?" "I'll be as silent as the tomb," said Mrs. Slade, who was a virago chiefly so far as domestic matters were concerned. "What makes you think as Mr. Johnson did it, Jerry? I've seen 'im myself, and 'e's that pale he couldn't kill a little fly." "D'yer know Mr. Mayne?" At the mention of this name the virago side of Mrs. Slade obtruded itself. "Yes, I do, and ashamed I am to 'ear you mention it. Oh, don't look at me like that, Jeremiah. I know how you and 'e used to go on with them gipsy girls." "That was in the exercise of my dooty." "Zara Lovell wasn't your duty, Jeremiah. The way as you and Mr. Mayne be'aved to that girl was disgraceful, it was. If them gipsies 'adn't gone away, her 'usband, Pharaoh Lee, would 'a knifed you." "He wasn't her 'usband; only goin' to be. You 'old yer tongue!" cried Jeremiah, ferociously. "All that's dead and done with two years ago. I ain't got nothin' to do with Zara now. Ain't I married to you?" "That you are; and the best day's work it was you ever did in your life." "An' I'm goin' to do a better, as 'll get us to Poldew, if you'll only 'ear reason. Now, if you're a-goin' to weep, I'll get away." "I ain't crying, Jerry," said Mrs. Slade, hastily, wiping her eyes with her apron. "Tell me, lovey, what's this about Mr. Mayne?" "Well, I knowed 'e was at the findin' of the body, which I wasn't," said the mollified Jeremiah; "so I arsk'd him a few questions, seein' as we was always of a friendly turn with one another." "Them gipsies was----" "Look 'ere; d'yer want me to go? 'Cos I'll go, sure enough, if you don't stop rakin' up them gipsies."