"Oh!" Brand withdrew his arm with a moan. "I feared so, I greatly feared so. How do you know?" "I'll tell you, if you'll answer my questions and work with me." "Any questions I can answer, I will; but work with you--why should I do that?" "To get that parson chap arrested." "No, no! Think of the disgrace to Bethgamul. I want him saved from the consequences of his sin." "We'll think about that when we prove his guilt," said Slade, dryly. "But see here, it's a chance of his escape I'm offering you. If I tell Chard all I know, you won't get your parson off, I can tell you. I want to find out the truth of this mystery to get promotion. Help me to find out who killed the girl, and I'll perhaps make things safe for the man as done it." This was purely a treacherous offer, as Slade knew that he could not get promotion unless the murderer of Tera was discovered and hanged. However, Korah Brand did not know this, and hoping to save Johnson--which for the sake of the chapel he really wished to do--he at once decided to accept Slade's offer. "I'll help you all I can," he said, "on condition that you don't tell the inspector, should we find out the truth." "It's a bargain, then!" Slade was delighted with the result of this diplomacy. Already he felt worthy to rank with the heroes of any of his favourite novels. "Now then, Mr. Johnson's in debt, isn't he?" "Yes, deeply in debt--the follies of his youth. He now knows how true is the text, 'Be sure thy sin will find thee out.'" "He'll find it truer when I've done with him," said Jeremiah, grimly. "Well, sir, these pearls the girl had with her?" "Yes. She took away some pearls. Johnson said so." "Very good. Then Johnson murdered her for those pearls, so that he might sell them and pay his debts." "How do you know?" "It's a theory." "A very bad one," said Brand, a worldly nature appearing through his religious veneer, "The girl left the house with the pearls during Johnson's absence." "Yes, but Johnson followed her." "What of that? He did not see her. He says he did not." "Oh," cried Slade, contemptuously, "he'd say anything to save his neck! Why, Mr. Herbert Mayne met him coming from the cornfield in which the body was found, that very night. You believe me, Mr. Brand; Johnson met the girl there, strangled her, sold the pearls, and hid her body in the corn." "You can't prove that." "We can prove it between us, Mr. Brand. You can prove as Johnson was sweet on the girl, and she'd have nothing to do with him. You can swear as 'e 'ad the pearls. His servant, by them bills and letters she picked up, can show that he was in debt, and Mr. Mayne can declare as Mr. Johnson left the cornfield on the night the girl ran away." "But all this is merely circumstantial evidence," argued the missionary. "Men have been hanged on as much before now. But I dare say we can make the case stronger. I'm going to serve this on Mr. Johnson, so in his study maybe I'll see something of them pearls."