done your first
cup. The cat knocked a basin of milk over this afternoon,' says I, 'and
so there isn't as much as usual in the house.'"

"All that was pure invention, I suppose?" interrogated Mrs. Vane
cynically.

"One had to say something, ma'am. He looked a little put out, and
hesitated for a minute or two; then he took and emptied the milk-jug
straight into his cup, and began to drink his tea; and I went out and
filled the jug again. I waited for a few minutes before I came back, and
I found him leaning back in his chair, with a sleepy look coming over
him directly. 'Miss Meldreth,' he said, 'I'm sorry to have troubled you,
for I really don't think I want any more tea'--and then he yawned fit to
take his head off--'and I'm going to lie down on the sofa to get a
little rest, for I am so uncommonly drowsy.'"

"That seems a little sudden," said Mrs. Vane thoughtfully. "Are you sure
that he did not suspect anything?"

"No, ma'am--I don't think so. Well, he laid down, and I went in and out
taking away the things; and, if you'll believe me, in ten minutes he was
fast asleep and snoring like--like a grampus!"

"Well, Sabina?"

"I let him stay so for nearly half an hour, so as to be sure that he was
thoroughly off, ma'am, and then I went up to him and touched his hair.
It was very nicely fitted on; but it was a wig for all that, and one
could easily see the dark hair underneath. The beard was more difficult
to move--there was some sticky stuff to fasten it on as well as an
elastic band behind the ears; but it was plainly a false one too. He's a
dark-looking man, almost like a gipsy, I should say, with hair that's
nearly black--something like his eyebrows. Do you think he's the man you
want, ma'am?"

"I'm sure of it, Sabina. Do you want to earn three hundred pounds
besides your twenty?"

"What, ma'am!"

"Three hundred pounds, I remember, was offered for the arrest of Andrew
Westwood, escaped prisoner from Portland prison, five years ago. This
man is Andrew Westwood, Sabina, who murdered Sydney Vane. You shall have
the money to keep as soon as it is paid."

Sabina drew back aghast.

"A murderer," she said--"and him such a nice quiet-looking old
gentleman! Why, aunt Eliza was always planning a match between him and
me! It's awful!"

Flossy laughed grimly.

"People don't carry their crimes in their face, Sabina," she said. "Now
you can go away and wait in the sitting-room until Parker has dressed
me. Then you