of news, had joined the circle round the table. He shook his head as he glanced at Mr. Penniket.
"I came on here to give you a bit of information," he said. "There's been an important development this afternoon. You know the name of this Stephen Purvis that's been mentioned as having been about here? Well, this afternoon his brother turned up from Devonshire. He wanted to see us—to tell us something. He thinks Stephen's been murdered!"
"On what grounds?" asked the solicitor.
"It turns out Stephen had sent Mr. Multenius a rare fine diamond—uncut—from South Africa," answered Ayscough. "Worth every penny of eighty thousand pounds!"
He was closely watching Zillah and Melky as he gave this piece of news, and he was quick to see their utter astonishment. Zillah turned to the solicitor; Melky slapped the table.
"That's been what the old man fetched from his bank that day!" he exclaimed. 'S'elp me if I ain't beginning to see light! Robbery—before murder!"
"That's about it," agreed Ayscough. "But I'll tell you all that's come out."
He went on to narrate the events of the afternoon, from the arrival of Mr. Killick and his companions at the police-station to the coming of John Purvis, and his three listeners drank in every word with rising interest. Mr. Penniket became graver and graver.
"Where's Mr. Killick now—and the rest of them!" he asked in the end.
"Gone to find that American chap—Guyler," answered
