as only one."

Hurd shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?" he said. "I speak generally.
From the strange circumstances of the crime I am inclined to think that
there is more than one person concerned in this matter. However, the
best thing to be done is to have hand-bills printed offering the five
hundred pounds reward. People will do a lot to earn so much money, and
someone may come forward with details about Mr. Krill which will solve
the mystery of Norman's death."

"I hope you will gain the reward yourself, Hurd."

The detective nodded. "I hope so too. I have lately married the sweetest
little wife in the world, and I want to keep her in the way she has been
accustomed to be kept. She married beneath her, as I'm only a
thief-catcher, and no very famous one either."

"But if you solve this mystery it will do you a lot of good."

"That it will," agreed Billy, heartily, "and it will mean advancement
and extra screw: besides the reward if I can get it. You may be very
sure, Mr. Beecot, that I'll do my best. Oh, by the way," he added, "have
you heard that Mr. Pash is being asked for many of those jewels?"

"No. Who are asking for them? Not that nautical man?"

Hurd shook his head. "He's not such a fool," said he. "No! But the
people who pledged the jewels are getting them back--redeeming them, in
fact. Pash is doing all the business thoroughly well, and will keep what
jewels remain for the time allowed by law, so that all those who wish to
redeem them can do so. If not, they can be sold, and that will mean more
money to Miss Norman--by the way, I presume she intends to remain Miss
Norman."

"Until I make her Mrs. Beecot," said Paul, smiling.

"Well," replied Hurd, very heartily, "I trust you will both be happy. I
think Miss Norman will get a good husband in you, and you will gain the
sweetest wife in the world bar one."

"Everyone thinks his own crow the whitest," laughed Beecot. "But now
that business is ended and you know what you are to do, will you tell me
plainly why you warned me against Grexon Hay?"

"Hum," said the detective, looking at Paul with keen eyes, "what do you
know about him, sir?"

Beecot detailed his early friendship with Hay at Torrington, and then
related the meeting in Oxford Street. "And so far as I have seen," added
Paul, justly, "there's nothing about the man to make me think he is a
bad lot."

"It is natural you should think well of him as you know no wrong, Mr.
Beecot. All the sa