eman had waited behind the closed
door, and at the one sharp knock of his superior opened it at once so
that the two slipped in as speedily as possible. Link had a
dark-lantern, which he used carefully, so that no light could be seen
from the window looking on to the square; and with his three companions
he went into the back room which had formerly been used by Clear as a
sleeping apartment. Here the two policemen stationed themselves in one
corner; and Link, with Lucian, waited near the door leading into the
sitting-room, so as to be ready for Mrs. Clear.

All was so dark and lonely and silent that Lucian's nerves became
over-strained, and it was as much as he could do to prevent himself from
trembling violently. In a whisper he conversed with Link.

"Have you heard anything of that girl Rhoda?" he asked.

"We have traced her to Berkshire," whispered Link. "She went back to her
gypsy kinsfolk, you know. I dare say we'll manage to lay hands on her
sooner or later."

"She is an accomplice of Wrent's, I believe."

"So do I, and I hope to make him confess as much to-night. Hush!"

Suddenly Link had laid his clasp on Lucian's wrist to command silence,
and the next moment they heard the swish-swish of a woman's dress
coming along the passage. She entered the sitting-room cautiously,
moving slowly in the darkness, and stole up to the door behind which
Lucian and the detective were hiding. The position of this she knew
well, because it was opposite the window.

"Are you there?" whispered Mrs. Clear nervously.

"Yes," replied Link in the same tone. "Myself, Mr. Denzil, and two
policemen. Keep the man in talk, and find out, if possible, if he
committed the murder."

"I hope he won't kill me," muttered Mrs. Clear. "He will, if he knows
I've betrayed him."

"That will be all right," said Link in a low, impatient voice. "We will
rush out should he prove dangerous. Get over by the window, so that we
can see a little of you and Wrent when you talk."

"No! no! Don't leave the door open! He'll see you!"

"He won't, Mrs. Clear. We'll keep back in the darkness. If he shows a
light, we'll rush him before he can use a weapon or clear out. Get back
to the window!"

"I hope I'll get through with this all right," said Mrs. Clear
nervously. "It's an awful situation," and she moved stealthily across
the floor to the window.

There was a faint gaslight outside, and the watchers could see her
figure and profile black against th