ne in the world that I can see," said Hurd, smoothly. "He told you
that Aaron Norman was your husband."

"No," said Mrs. Krill, decidedly, "I first heard of my husband by seeing
a chance hand-bill--"

"Not at all," answered Hurd, just as decidedly, "Hay has confessed."

"There was nothing to confess," cried Mrs. Krill, loudly and with
emphasis.

"Oh, I think so," said the detective, noting that she was losing her
temper. "You didn't want it known that you were aware of Norman's
identity before his death. Do you deny that?"

"I deny everything," gasped Mrs. Krill, her hands trembling.

"That's a pity, as I want you to corroborate certain facts connected
with Anne Tyler. Do you know the name?"

"My maiden name," said the widow, and a look of fear crept into her
hard, staring eyes. "How did you come to know of it?"

"From the marriage certificate supplied by Pash."

"He had no right to give it to you."

"He didn't. I possess only a copy. But that copy I sent down in charge
of a certain person to Beechill. This person found that you were married
as Anne Tyler to Lemuel Krill in the parish church, twenty miles from
your birthplace."

Mrs. Krill drew a long breath of relief. "Well?" she demanded defiantly,
"is there anything wrong about that?"

"No. But this person also made inquiries at Stowley about you. You are
the daughter of a farmer."

"I mentioned that fact myself."

"Yes. But you didn't mention that your mother had been hanged for
poisoning your father."

Mrs. Krill turned ghastly pale. "No," she said in a suffocating voice,
"such is the case; but can you wonder that I forebore to mention that
fact? My daughter knows nothing of that--nor did my husband--"

"Which husband do you mean, Krill or Jessop?" asked Hurd.

Mrs. Krill gasped and rose, swaying. "What do you mean, man?"

"This," said the detective, on his feet at once; "this person hunted out
the early life of Anne Tyler at Stowley. It was discovered that Anne was
the daughter of a woman who had been hanged, and of a man who had been
murdered. Also this person found that Anne Tyler married a sailor called
Jarvey Jessop some years before she committed bigamy with Lemuel Krill
in Beechill Church--"

"It's a lie!" screamed Mrs. Krill, losing her self-control. "How dare
you come here with these falsehoods?"

"They are not falsehoods, Anne Tyler, _alias_ Anne Jessop, _alias_ Anne
Krill, etc.," retorted Hurd, speaking rapidly and emphasizing hi