Perhaps had Heron attacked Jerry less suddenly, and had he not shewn by
a few chosen remarks that he knew a good deal, the half-witted creature
might not have confessed. But his weak nature gave way altogether. And
during the next half-hour Geoffrey turned him inside out like a glove.
The story which Heron extracted from the whimpering creature was this
Roper had always suspected, and rightly, that Jenner had hidden the
forged bill before he went to prison. When the man came out, he got to
know the date of his discharge, and set Jerry to follow him in order
that he might see where he went to get the document. Jerry was on the
track for many days, and saw that he procured it from an old friend,
who, ignorant of its value, had taken charge of it. The document was
in a sealed envelope, and Jerry had seen Jenner place it in a red
pocket-book. All this he reported to Roper, and he was then ordered to
follow Jenner, and get it from him at all costs.
Jerry got again on the track of the released prisoner, and followed
him down to Westham. In one way or another the spy kept himself out of
sight, for Jenner, having been Roper's clerk, knew the lad--as he then
was. The rest may be told in Jerry's own words, which were many and
rambling:
"He got down here on a misty, rainy night, sir," he said, fiddling with
his clumsy fingers, "and I kept at his heels. At a wayside pub he took
victuals and drink; I watched the door from the other side of the road,
and ate what I had with me. I daren't go inside lest he should see me."
"Didn't you lose him in the mist?" asked Geoffrey, who was listening
eagerly.
"I never lose anything, sir," returned Jerry. "I can see anywhere, and
foller like a dog. You don't slip me! I've had enough follering to do
for the master. Well, Jenner he goes to a large pool of water."
"The Waggoner's Pond. Go on."
"Oh, that's it, is it? I never know'd. Well, there he meets with Mr.
Marshall. Oh, I know'd his voice. I was hiding near them behind a
hedge, I was; and a ghost came past me, sir--a ghost with a long black
dress."
Heron saw that the man was ignorant that Mrs. Marshall also had been
listening; and this was all the better. It was as well that Jerry had
taken her for a ghost.
"I hate him so, you see," explained Jerry. "He killed Miss Elsa, and
I was cruel fond of her, I was. Well, them two was talking about the
bill, and Jenner he shewed it to Marshall, but he wouldn't give it up
till he got money for it. Marshall said he'd give him money when he was
married and after that they parted. I tried to foller Jenner, but I
thought the other--Marshall--'ud spot me. I didn't mind, though, as I
know'd Jenner was going to the Turnpike House to see his wife."
"But you were a stranger! How did you know where that was?"