le truth. I
wish to add that I ought perhaps to have told all this at first. I had
reasons for not doing so. I told what I considered necessary, that I
parted from Marbury, leaving him well and alive, soon after midnight."

"What reasons were or are they which prevented you from telling all
this at first?" asked the Treasury Counsel.

"Reasons which are private to me."

"Will you tell them to the court?"

"No!"

"Then will you tell us why Marbury went with you to the chambers in
Fountain Court which you tenant under the name of Anderson?"

"Yes. To fetch a document which I had in my keeping, and had kept for
him for twenty years or more."

"A document of importance?"

"Of very great importance."

"He would have it on him when he was--as we believe he was--murdered
and robbed?"

"He had it on him when he left me."

"Will you tell us what it was?"

"Certainly not!"

"In fact, you won't tell us any more than you choose to tell?"

"I have told you all I can tell of the events of that night."

"Then I am going to ask you a very pertinent question. Is it not a fact
that you know a great deal more about John Marbury than you have told
this court?"

"That I shall not answer."

"Is it not a fact that you could, if you would, tell this court more
about John Marbury and your acquaintanceship with him twenty years
ago?"

"I also decline to answer that."

The Treasury Counsel made a little movement of his shoulders and turned
to the Coroner.

"I should suggest, sir, that you adjourn this enquiry," he said
quietly.

"For a week," assented the Coroner, turning to the jury.

The crowd surged out of the court, chattering, murmuring, exclaiming--
spectators, witnesses, jurymen, reporters, legal folk, police folk, all
mixed up together. And Spargo, elbowing his own way out, and busily
reckoning up the value of the new complexions put on everything by the
day's work, suddenly felt a hand laid on his arm. Turning he found
himself gazing at Jessie Aylmore.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THE SILVER TICKET

With a sudden instinct of protection, Spargo quickly drew the girl
aside from the struggling crowd, and within a moment had led her into a
quiet by-street. He looked down at her as she stood recovering her
breath.

"Yes?" he said quietly.

Jessie Aylmore looked up at him, smiling faintly.

"I want to speak to you," she said. "I must speak to you."

"Yes," said Spargo. "But--the others? Your sister?--Bre