shop had given the money to Jentham that Mosk arrived.
He saw the bishop departing, and recognised his face in the searching
glare of the lightning flashes. When Dr Pendle had disappeared, Mosk
rode up to Jentham, who, with the money in his hand, stood in the
drenching rain under the sign-post. He looked up as the horse
approached, but did not run away, being rendered pot-valiant by the
liquor he had drunk earlier in the evening. Before the man could
recognise him, Mosk had jumped off his horse; and, at close quarters,
had shot Jentham through the heart. 'He fell in the mud like a 'eap of
clothes,' said Mosk, 'so I jus' tied up the 'oss to the sign-post, an'
went through his pockets. I got the cash--a bundle of notes, they
wos--and some other papers as I found. Then I dragged his corp into a
ditch by the road, and galloped orf on m' oss as quick as I cud go back
to Southberry. There I stayed all night, sayin' as I'd bin turned back
by the storm from riding over to Beorminster. Nex' day I come back to m'
hotel, and a week arter I paid m' rent to Sir 'Arry with the notes I'd
stole. I guv a ten of 'em to young Mr Pendle, and two fives of m' own,
as he wanted to change a twenty. If I'd know'd as it was dangerous I'd
hev gone up to London and got other notes; but I never thought I'd be
found out by the numbers. No one thought as I did it; but I did. 'Ow did
you think 'twas me, guv'nor?'

'You were always drunk,' answered Baltic, who had written all this down,
'and I sometimes heard you talking to yourself. Then Sir Harry said that
you had paid your rent, and he did not know where you got the money
from. Afterwards I found out about the pistol and the notes you had
paid Sir Harry. I had no proof of your guilt, although I suspected you
for a long time; but it was the pistol which Mother Jael picked up that
put me on the right track.'

'Ah, wos it now?' said Mosk, with regret. 'Th' 'oss knocked that out of
m' 'and when I wos tyin' him up, and I 'adn't no time to look for it in
the mud an' dark. Y' wouldn't hev caught me, I s'pose, if it hadn't bin
for that bloomin' pistol?'

'Oh, yes, I would,' rejoined Baltic, coolly; 'the notes would have
hanged you in any case, and I would have got at them somehow. I
suspected you all along.'

'Wish y' 'adn't come to m' house,' muttered Mosk, discontentedly.

'I was guided there by God to punish your sin.'

'Yah! Stuff! Gimme that confession and I'll sign it.'

But Baltic, wary old f