"Yes, of justice. You refuse, then, to say whether she left her home in Parksides with her father's consent?"
"I do not refuse. Her father was not kind to her; he turned her from his house."
"Then when she came here they were not upon friendly terms. It is the construction which every person would place upon it. Have you any objection to say why he turned her from his house?"
"He wished to force her into a hateful marriage; she would not consent."
"Were you and her father upon friendly terms?"
"We were not."
"You harboured her, then, against his wish?"
"She had no other shelter. We have always regarded her as a child of our own. Her mother was my sister."
"I know it. Since she has been living permanently with you has Miss Farebrother heard from her father?"
"He wrote to her, but not in answer to any letter of hers."
"Did he not say in his communication that if she would obey him she could return
to Parksides?"
"Yes," said Aunt Leth, amazed at the extent of Mr. Beeminster's knowledge, and in an agony of apprehension.
"Did Miss Farebrother reply to that letter?"
"No, she did not."
"I suppose that her conduct met with your approval? She would be guided by you?"
"I endeavoured to guide her aright. Her father showed no love for her."
"But you may be prejudiced. Since your marriage there has been no love lost between you and Miser Farebrother?"
"I cannot deny it."
"I beg your pardon; these are matters which, perhaps, I should not go into. They will, no doubt, be investigated elsewhere. They are, however, an evidence of prejudice. Did Miss Farebrother leave your house last night?"
"She did."
"With your knowledge and consent?"
"We did not know of it until she was gone. She met our servant, and gave her a message to us that she had gone to Parksides."
"Did you send after her?"
"We did."
"Who was your messenger?"
"A young man of the name of Barley."
"Barley!" said Mr. Beeminster, turning to his companion with a look of intelligence. "Tom Barley?"
"Yes."
"There is a man of that name in the force."
"It is the same. He is a policeman."
"Ah! Did he obtain any information of her?"
"No. He could not remain long away. He had to return to his duty here in London."
"So that he came back alone?"
"Yes."
"Miss Farebrother, however, came back?"
"Yes."
"She is in the house now?"
"She is."
"I believe she is not well?"
"She is very ill, and I am anxious to go to her."
"A little patience, please, and all will be cleared up. At what hour of the night or morning did she come back?"
"At between nine and ten o'clock this morning."
"A strange hour for a young lady to come home. Had she been to Parksides?"
"I do not know to a certainty."
"She has not told you?"
"No."
"Did she see her father?"
"I cannot say."
"You do not know? She has not told you?"
"She has not."
"Then if she went to Parksides and saw her father, she is concealing the fact from you?" Aunt Leth did not reply. These cold, relentless questions, with their strange and close adherence to fact, bewildered her. "When she left this house last night she was in good health. Contradict me if such is not the case, and in anything I may say which is opposed to the truth. She was in good health at that time. She returned this morning, sick and ill. Has she worn this veil lately?" He produced it, and handed it to Aunt Leth.
"She wore it yesterday."
"She must have worn it when she went out last night. It was found in the grounds of Parksides to-day. Therefore Miss Farebrother must have been there. Do you recognize this brooch?"
He handed her the brooch he had shown to 'Melia Jane.
"It was given to my dear niece by her father's house-keeper."
"Mrs. Pamflett?"
"Yes."
"It was found in the grounds of Parksides to-day." Mr. Beeminster took his companion aside and whispered a few words to him; the man nodded and left the room. Aunt Leth heard him close the street door behind him. "When, within your knowledge, did Miss Farebrother wear this brooch last?"
"I cannot say positively; it is a long time since. I believe she did not bring it away with her from Parksides when she left her father's house to come to us."
"Can you swear to that?"
"No; but my niece will be able to tell you."
"I shall not ask her; it might be used in evidence against her."
"In evidence against her! For God's sake tell me what you are here for! Do not keep me any longer in suspense!"
"Not for a moment longer. Miser Farebrother is dead."
"Dead!"
"Dead. Found murdered this morning in the grounds at Parksides. A cruel murder. I have brought a copy of an evening paper with me containing the information. It was just out as I came here. Would you like to read it? But you do not seem in a fit state. I will read it to you."
Mr. Beeminster unfolded the paper and read:
"Frightful Murder. A Mysterious Case.
"This morning, at eleven o'clock, the discovery was made of a horrible murder committed on a small estate known as Parksides, on the outskirts of Beddington.
"For a number of years Parksides has been inhabited by a man who, from some cause or other, was generally spoken of as Miser Farebrother. He was a man, it is understood, of penurious habits, and the only servant in the house was a house-keeper, Mrs. Pamflett. He had one child, a daughter, who for some time past has not resided with him, but who found a home with an aunt and uncle living in London. Mrs. Pamflett bore the reputation of being an attentive