ould
have hesitated to use. The effect was instantaneous. Before the girl
could frame her frightened lips in reply, her mother lifted her head
sharply.

"I didn't say so! Don't answer him, Hazel, don't tell him. Oh!" Too late
the wretched woman realized that she had betrayed her daughter, and she
sank into a stupefied silence.

"Your mother has let the cat out of the bag," said Merrington to the
girl, in a bantering tone. "Come, now," he added, changing swiftly into
his most truculent mood. "We may as well have the truth, first as last.
You were seen last night going up the hall in the direction of the left
wing just before the murder was committed. Do you admit it?"

"I do." The admission was made in a low but calm tone.

"Then your last answer was untrue. What were you doing in the hall at
that time?"

Hazel, staring straight in front of her, did not reply, but her quickly
moving breast betrayed her agitation.

"Did you hear me? I asked what were you doing in the hall last night."

"I shall not tell you."

"Did you go upstairs?"

"I shall not tell you."

These replies were given with a firm readiness which was in striking
contrast to her previous hesitation. She was like a person who had been
forced on to a dangerous path she feared to tread, and had summoned
fortitude to walk it bravely to the end.

"Of course you realize the position in which you place yourself by your
silence?" The quiet gravity with which Merrington put this question was,
similarly, in the strangest contrast to his former hectoring style. "It
is my duty to warn you that you are placing yourself in a grave
situation. Once more, will you answer my questions?"

"I will not." The answer was accompanied by a gesture which contained
something of the carelessness of despair.

"Then you must abide the consequences." He turned to Captain Stanhill
and Caldew. "It will be necessary to search the housekeeper's rooms.
Lumbe, you remain here and take charge of these two women. Do not allow
either of them to leave the room on any pretext. You had better keep the
door locked until we return."

He strode out of the room followed by Captain Stanhill and Caldew, to
the manifest trepidation of two maidservants outside, who had plainly no
business there. It was apparent that Milly Saker had been talking, and
that strange rumours were agitating the moat-house underworld.

"Where are the housekeeper's rooms?" said Merrington, abruptly accosting
one o