Page:Marie Adelaide Belloc Lowndes - The Lodger.djvu/131

Victoria Park, making a violent speech, not only against the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, but also against the Home Secretary.

But Daisy, like most people who believe themselves blessed with the possession of an accomplishment, had no mind to leave off reading just yet.

"Here’s another notion!" she exclaimed. "Another letter, father!"

"Pardon to Accomplices.

"Dear Sir—During the last day or two several of the more intelligent of my acquaintances have suggested that The Avenger, whoever he may be, must be known to a certain number of persons. It is impossible that the perpetrator of such deeds, however nomad he may be in his habits——"

"Now I wonder what ‘nomad’ can be?" Daisy interrupted herself, and looked round at her little audience.

"I’ve always declared the fellow had all his senses about him," observed Bunting confidently.

Daisy went on, quite satisfied:

"——however nomad he may be in his habits, must have some habitat where his ways are known to at least one person. Now the person who knows the terrible secret is evidently withholding information in expectation of a reward, or maybe because, being an accessory after the fact, he or she is now afraid of the consequences. My suggestion, Sir, is that the Home Secretary promise a free pardon. The more so that only thus can this miscreant be brought to justice. Unless he was caught red-handed in the act, it will be exceedingly difficult to trace the crime committed to any individual, for English law looks very askance at circumstantial evidence."

"There’s something worth listening to in that letter," said Joe, leaning forward.