s lying--I could show you the place, easy--between the edge of the
wood and the river-bank," continued Carter. "And though he was dead
enough when I found him, guv'nor, he hadn't been dead so long. But dead
he was--and not from aught of my doing."

"What time was this?" asked Mr. Lindsey.

"It would be past eleven o'clock," replied Carter. "It was ten when I
called by Cornhill station. I went the way I did--down through the woods
to the river-bank--because I'd noticed a hut there in the morning that I
could sleep in--I was making for that when I found the body."

"Well--about the purse?" demanded Mr. Lindsey shortly. "No lies, now!"

The prisoner shook his head at that, and growled--but it was evident he
was growling at himself.

"That's right enough," he confessed. "I felt in his pockets, and I did
take the purse. But--I didn't put him in the water. True as I'm here,
guv'nor. I did no more than take the purse! I left him there--just as he
was--and the next day I got drinking, and last night I stopped in that
hut again, and today I was drinking, pretty heavy--and I sort of lost my
head and pulled the purse out, and--that's the truth, anyway, whether you
believe it or not. But I didn't kill yon man, though I'll admit I robbed
his body--like the fool I am!"

"Well, you see where it's landed you," remarked Mr. Lindsey. "All
right--hold your tongue now, and I'll see what I can do. I'll appear for
you when you come before the magistrate tomorrow."

He tapped at the door of the cell, and Chisholm, who had evidently waited
in the corridor, let us out. Mr. Lindsey said nothing to him, nor to the
superintendent--he led me away into the street. And there he clapped me
on the arm.

"I believe every word that man said!" he murmured. "Come on, now--we'll
see this Nance Maguire."

CHAPTER XVII

THE IRISH HOUSEKEEPER

I was a good deal surprised that Mr. Lindsey should be--apparently--so
anxious to interview Crone's housekeeper, and I said as much. He turned
on me sharply, with a knowing look.

"Didn't you hear what the woman was saying when we came across her there
outside the police-station?" he exclaimed. "She was saying that Crone had
said to her that there was some man who would give his two eyes to be
seeing his corpse! Crone's been telling her something. And I'm so
convinced that that man in the cells yonder has told us the truth, as
regards himself, that I'm going to find out what Crone did tell her. Who