"Up in the room it occupied during life," said Morley; "but come into the library, I have something to show you."
Ware followed and sank wearily into a chair.
He could scarcely keep his eyes open. Nevertheless he started up wide awake when his host spoke.
"Miss Denham killed Daisy," said Morley. "She took a stiletto from the wall yonder, and here it is." He produced it with a dramatic wave.
"Where did you find it?"
"Beside the grave—on the spot of the murder." _____
CHAPTER VI
THE CASE AGAINST ANNE
The contradictory qualities of Mrs. Parry's nature came out strongly in connection with the Rickwell tragedy.
When Miss Denham was prosperous the old woman had nothing but bad to say of her, now that she was a fugitive and generally credited with a crime, Mrs. Parry stood up for her stoutly.
She made herself acquainted with all details, and delivered her verdict to Mrs. Morley, on whom she called for the express purpose of giving her opinion.
"I never liked the woman," she said impressively, "she was artful and frivolous; and to gain admiration behaved in a brazen way of which I thoroughly disapproved.
All the same, I do not believe she killed the girl."
"But the evidence is strongly against her," expostulated Mrs. Morley.
"And how many people have been hanged on evidence which has afterwards been proved incorrect?" retorted Mrs. Parry. "I don't care how certain they are of her guilt.
In my opinion she is an innocent woman.
I am glad she has escaped."
"I am not sorry myself," sighed the other. "I was fond of Anne, for she had many good points.
But Mr. Steel says——"
"Who is Mr. Steel?"
"The detective who has charge of the case."
"I thought the police from Chelmsford had it in hand."
"Of course, Mr. Morley sent for the police the morning after poor Daisy's death.
That is three days ago.
To-morrow the inquest is to be held.
I suppose they will bring a verdict against poor Miss Denham."
"Ha!" said Mrs. Parry, rubbing her nose, "and my greengrocer is on the jury.
Much he knows about the matter.
But this Steel creature. Where does he come from?"
"Mr. Morley sent to London for him.
He has a private inquiry office, I believe."
"No such thing," contradicted Mrs. Parry, "he is from Scotland Yard.
A genuine detective—none of your makeshifts."
"I thought you knew nothing about him?"
"Nor did I till this minute.
But I now remember seeing his name in connection with the theft of Lady Summersdale's diamonds.
He caught the thief in a very clever way.
Steel—Martin Steel, I remember now.
So he has the case in hand.
Humph!
He won't accuse Anne Denham, you may be sure of that.
He's too clever."
"But he is convinced of her guilt," said the other triumphantly.
"Then the man's a fool.
I'll see him myself."
Mrs. Parry did so the very next day after the inquest had been held and the verdict given.
She possessed a small, neat cottage on the outskirts of Rickwell, standing some distance back from the high road.
Seated at her drawing-room window, she could see all those who came or went, and thus kept a watch over the morals of the village.
This window was called "Mrs. Parry's eye," and everyone sneaked past it in constant dread of the terrible old lady who looked through it.
Beyond Mrs. Parry's cottage were the houses of the gentry and the church; therefore she knew that Steel would pass her house on the way to The Elms, where he would doubtless go to report himself to Morley.