d his heart freely. Still, it was evident that a trifle more liquor
would make him quarrelsome, so Hurd proposed coffee, a proposition to
which the sailor graciously assented.

"Cawfee," he observed, lighting his pipe, and filling the room with
evil-smelling smoke, "clears the 'ead, not as mine wants clearing, mind
you. But cawfee ain't bad, when rum ain't t' be 'ad."

"You'll have more rum later," hinted Hurd.

"Put it there," said Jessop, and again the detective was forced to wince
at the strong grip of a horny hand.

Miss Junk appeared in answer to the tinkle of the bell and removed the
food. Afterwards she brought in coffee, hot and strong and black, and
Jessop drank two cups, with the result that he became quieter. Then the
two men settled down for a pleasant conversation. At least, Jessop
thought so, for he frequently expressed the friendliest sentiments
towards his host. Then Matilda appeared with a bottle of rum, a kettle
and two glasses. When she departed, Hurd intimated that he would not
require her services again that night. This he whispered to her at the
door, while Jessop was placing the kettle on the fire, and before
returning to his seat, he quietly turned the key. So he had the mariner
entirely to himself and got to business at once while the kettle boiled.

"You have known this place for years I believe," said Hurd, taking a
chair opposite to that of Jessop. "Did you ever drop across a man, who
used to live here, called Lemuel Krill?"

The other man started. "Whatever makes you arsk that?" he inquired in a
husky voice.

"Well, you see, as a commercial I trade in books, and had to do with a
second-hand bookseller in Gwynne Street, Drury Lane. It seems that he
was murdered," and he eyed Jessop attentively.

The sailor nodded and composed himself with a violent effort. "Yes,"
said he in his husky voice, "so I heard. But what's he got to do with
Lemuel Krill?"

"Oh," said Hurd, carelessly, "it is said Aaron Norman was Krill."

"Might ha' bin. I don't know myself," was the gruff reply.

"Ah! Then you did not know Lemuel Krill?"

"Well," admitted the captain, reluctantly, "I did. He wos the landlord
of this here pub, and a cuss to drink. Lor', 'ow he could drink, and did
too. But he run away from his wife as used to keep this shanty, and she
never heard no more of him."

"Until she found he was rich and could leave her five thousand a year,"
said Hurd, absently; "so like a woman."

"You seem