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"Do you know who did?"
"Blest if I do!"
"Does Mr. Wrent?" asked Denzil meaningly.
The girl wet her finger and went through a childish game. "That's wet,"
she said; then wiping the finger on her dingy skirt, "that's dry. Cut my throat if I tell a lie. Ask me something easier, Mr. Denzil."
"I don't understand you," said Lucian, quite puzzled.
"Rhoda! Rhoda! 'Ave you gone crazy?" wailed Mrs. Bensusan.
"Look here," said the girl, taking no notice of her mistress, "do you want to know about Mr. Wrent?"
"Yes, I do."
"And about that side pa.s.sage as you talked of to the missis?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll answer yer questions, sir. You'll know all I know."
"Very good," said Lucian, with an approving smile, "now you are talking like a sensible girl."
"Rhoda! You ain't going to talk bad of Mr. Wrent?"
"It ain't bad, and it ain't good," replied Rhoda. "It's betwixt and between."
"Well, I must 'ear all. I don't want the character of the 'ouse took away," said Mrs. Bensusan, with an attempt at firmness.
"That's all right," rejoined Rhoda rea.s.suringly, "you can jine in yerself when y' like. Fire away, Mr. Denzil."
"Who is Mr. Wrent?" asked Lucian, going straight to the point.
"I don't know," replied Rhoda; and henceforth the examination proceeded as though the girl were in the witness-box and Lucian counsel for the prosecution.
Q. When did he come to Jersey Street?
A. At the end of July, last year.
Q. When did he go away?
A. The morning after Boxing Day.
Q. Can you describe his appearance?
A. He was of the middle height, with a fresh complexion, white hair, and a white beard growing all over his face. He was untidy about his clothes, and kept a good deal to his own room among a lot of books. I don't think he was quite right in his head.
Q. Did he pay his rent regularly?
A. Yes, except when he was away. He would go away for a week at a time.
Q. Was he in this house on Christmas Eve?
A. Yes, sir. He came back two days before Christmas.
Q. Where had he been?
A. I don't know; he did not say.
Q. Did he have any visitors?
A. He did. A tall, dark man and a lady.
Q. What was the lady like?
A. A little woman; I never saw her face, as she always kept her veil down.
Q. What kind of a veil did she wear?
A. A black gauze veil with velvet spots.
Q. Did she come often to see Mr. Wrent?
A. Yes. Four or five times.
Q. When did she call last?
A. On Christmas Eve.
Q. At what hour?
A. She came at seven, and went away at eight. I know that because she had supper with Mr. Wrent.
Q. Did she leave the house?
A. Yes. I let her out myself.
Q. Did you ever hear any conversation between them?
A. No. Mr. Wrent took care of that. I never got any chance of listening at keyholes with him. He was a sharp one, for all his craziness.
Q. What was the male visitor like?
A. He was tall and dark, with a black moustache.
Q. Do you think he was a foreigner?
A. I don't know. I never heard him speak. Mr. Wrent let him out, as usual.
