orth--wouldn't part with a
groat unless un was forced to. But praise be, her'll get her dues
now; fegs, yes! unless old skinflint went and changed his will
without her knowin'."

"Oho!" said Cleek, with a strong rising inflection. "His will was
made in Miss Renfrew's favour, was it?"

"Aye. That's why her come and put up with un and all his
hardheartedness--denyin' her the pleasure o' ever seein' her young
man just because him and Master Harry had been friends and
playmates when t' pair of un was just boys in knickers and broad
collars. There be a stone heart for you."

"Rather. Now one more question: I think you said it was Miss Renfrew
who gave the alarm when the murder was discovered, Mr. Nippers. How
did she give it and to whom?"

"Eh, now! to me and Mistress Armroyd, of course. Me and her war
sittin' in the kitchen havin' a bite o' supper at the time. Gorham,
he war there, too, in the beginnin'; but un didn't stop, of
course--'twouldn't 'a' done for the pair of us to be off duty
together."

"Oh! is Gorham a constable, then?"

"Aye--under constable: second to me. Got un appointed six months
ago. Him had just gone a bit of a time when Miss Renfrew come
rushin' in and shrieked out about the murder; but he heard the
rumpus and came poundin' back, of course. I dunno what I'd 'a' done
if un hadn't, for Miss Renfrew her went from one faintin' fit to
another--'twas just orful. Gorham helped Ah to carry her up to
the sittin'-room, wheer Mistress Armroyd burnt feathers under her
nose, and when we'd got her round a bit we all three went outside
and round to the laboratory. That's when we first see the prints of
the animal's feet. Mistress Armroyd spied 'em first--all over the
flower bed just under the laboratory window."

"Oho! then that is what you meant when you alluded to an 'animal'
when you pounced down upon us, was it? I see. One word more: what
kind of an animal was it? Or couldn't you tell from the marks?"

"No, sir, I couldn't--nobody could unless it might be Sir Ralph
Droger. He'll be like to, if anybody. Keeps all sorts of animals and
birds and things in great cages in Droger Park, does Sir Ralph. One
thing I can swear to, though, sir: they warn't like the footprints
of any animal as I ever see. Theer be a picture o' St. Jarge and the
Dragon on the walls o' Town Hall at Birchampton, Mr. Headland, sir,
and them footprints is more like the paws of that dragon than
anything else I can call to mind. Scaly a