Boardinghouses -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction; Mystery and detective stories
George left the house, as there was nothing he could do, but he
intended to call in again. Meanwhile he repaired to Amelia Square to
see Bawdsey. Derrington wished him to tell the detective to stop
looking after the case and discharge him from his employment. In his
pocket George had a check for one thousand pounds, and when this was
paid the whole case was to be relegated to obscurity. Now that
Derrington was reconciled to his grandson he was anxious, for obvious
reasons, that the sordid tragedy of Mrs. Jersey's death should not
come to light. He had not played a very respectable part in it
himself, and, moreover, he did not wish that confession published. It
would only be a case of washing the family linen in public, and both
George and he agreed that this was undesirable. The sooner Bawdsey
married Lola and went to America the better, Derrington thought. And
for his own sake Bawdsey would hold his tongue, seeing what a close
connection he was of the dead woman.
Bawdsey was at home and saw George at once. He looked rather excited,
and could hardly keep his seat. "Well, Mr. Brendon," he asked, "what
is it?"
"I should rather ask you that;" said George; "you seem excited."
"Not very. Only I have been fortunate in some business, and----"
"What is the business?"
"I'll tell you that later. What is yours?"
"A pleasant one," rejoined George. "Here is the check for one thousand
pounds which my grandfather promised you. Marry Lola and go to the
States, and stop searching for the assassin of Mrs. Jersey."
"Thank you," replied Bawdsey, taking the check eagerly, "your
grandfather is a prince, Mr. Brendon. As to the case, why should I
stop searching?"
"You will never find the assassin."
"Pardon me," said Bawdsey, in high glee. "I have found the assassin.
Yes!" as George uttered an ejaculation. "Miss Bull killed Mrs.
Jersey."
CHAPTER XXV
THE TRUTH
George stared at the triumphant detective in surprise. It seemed
impossible that what he stated could be true. Miss Bull was the very
last person whom Brendon would have accused. No one had been more
candid than she had been, and no one at the time of the discovery of
the crime had done more to help the detectives.
"You must mean Margery," said George after a time.
"No, I don't," replied Bawdsey, in a determined voice. "I mean that
little white old woman with the black eyes--Miss Bull, or, as you know
her, Miss Jenny Howard."
"But what reason----"
"Ah, that's a long story! She shall tell you herself."
"Have you had her arrested?"
"Not yet. But she will be arrested before the end of the day. I have
already communicated with Scotland Yard."
George rose and walked to the window. He felt irritable and upset now
that the truth had come to light. He wished that Bawdsey had not been
so confoundedly interfering, and the detective's next words annoyed
him still further.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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