an tell yer. Now will yer
jest oblige me by takin' yourselves off? I shall 'ave to clean up
after yer"--she pointed scornfully to the marks of their muddy boots on
the floor--"an' it's gettin' late."

"One moment, Mrs. Costrell," said Saunders, gently rubbing his hands.
"With your leave, John and I 'ull just inspeck the cupboard _hup_stairs
before leavin'--an' then we'll clear out double quick. But we'll 'ave
one try if we can't 'it on somethin' as 'ull show 'ow the thief got
in--with your leave, of _coorse_."

Bessie hesitated; then she threw some spoons she held into the water
beside her with a violent gesture.

"Go where yer wants," she said, and returned to her washing.

Saunders began to climb the narrow stairs, with John behind him. But
the smith's small eyes had a puzzled look.

"There's _somethin'_ rum," he said to himself. "'Ow _did_ she spend it
all? 'As she been carryin' on with some one be'ind Isaac's back, or is
Isaac in it too? It's one or t'other."

Meanwhile, Bessie, left behind, was consumed by a passionate effort of
memory. _What_ had she done with the key the night before, after she
had locked the cupboard? Her brain was blurred. The blow--the
fall--seemed to have confused even the remembrance of the scene with
Timothy. How was it, for instance, that she had put the box back in
the wrong place? She put her hand to her head, trying in an anguish to
recollect the exact details.

The little widow sat, meanwhile, a few yards away, her thin hands
clasped on her lap in her usual attitude of humble entreaty; her soft,
grey eyes, brimmed with tears, were fixed on Bessie. Bessie did not
know that she was there--that she existed.

The door had closed after the two men. Bessie could hear vague
movements, but nothing more. Presently she could bear it no longer.
She went to the door and opened it.

She was just in time. By the light of the bit of candle that John
held, she saw Saunders sitting on the stair, the shadow of his huge
frame thrown black on the white wall; she saw him stoop suddenly, as a
bird pounces; she heard an exclamation--then a sound of metal.

Her involuntary cry startled the men above.

"All right, Mrs. Costrell," said Saunders, briskly--"all right. We'll
be down directly."

She came back into the kitchen, a mist before her eyes, and fell
heavily on a chair by the fire. Mary Anne approached her, only to be
pushed back. The widow stood listening, in an agony.