"Elspeth from the 'Marsh Inn' has come to stop here the night," explained his wife, "and a doctor's here to see you." "I feel very bad," grumbled the policeman, "my head's aching, where them there villains gave me a clump." "Let me see it," said the doctor, and having moved the lamp, he began to undo the bandages with deft fingers. "Come, Elspeth, me and you'll go to the kitchen. You'll be wanting your supper, poor lass. I'm glad ye've come here. Augh, that woman at the inn, I'm fair glad you've left her." "Good night, Sweetlips," said Elspeth again, and in an utterly worn-out tone, "you'll see me to-morrow." "Yes. Come along to the caravan and speak with my missus. She's a rare one for managing, is my Rachel." Mrs. Armour bore off the weary girl, and when the pair were out of the room, Kind turned his attention to the policeman, who had stopped his groans. Browne had bound up his head, and he confessed that the wound felt easier. "My missus is a good soul," said Armour, "but her fingers is all thumbs, drat her." He looked as though he expected his visitors to take their leave, but when Browne sat down and Sweetlips followed suit, the policeman half rose from the sofa in astonishment. "You'll be wanting to see me, gentlemen?" "Yes," said Kind, making a sign to the doctor to hold his tongue, "I want to ask you about this kidnapping." "What for?" asked Armour, suspiciously. "This gentleman," Kind indicated the doctor, "is a friend of Mr. Herries, who is accused falsely of having killed his uncle, Sir Simon. He has asked me to see into the matter." "But what can a Cheap-jack do?" "I was not always a Cheap-jack, Armour. Formerly I was in the London detective force." "Were ye now?" Armour's face relaxed. "Then maybe ye could put me on to earning this bit of money by telling me where the man we want is hanging out." "I'd rather earn it for myself," said Sweetlips coolly, "but if you'll tell me all about this kidnapping, I may be able to make it worth your while." "But I don't see what this, has to do with that?" "Ah, you can't see far, that's a fact," rejoined the Cheap-jack scathingly. "But it's this way. Your kidnapping has to do with the murder. The man who killed Sir Simon climbed in at the window somewhere about midnight." "I wasn't there then," said Armour swiftly. "I know that, or you would have seen him getting in. But he had not left by the time you came, and when you sat down on the bench, you prevented his escape." "But, Kind," broke in the doctor, "the assassin departed through the tap-room next morning, disguised as his victim." "That's true enough, but the men who kidnapped Armour may not have known that. Probably they were set to keep the coast clear, and when Armour blocked the way of escape, they rushed him."