awkward position--and them rings, too! Now, if he'd only ha' shown 'em to
me, first, Zillah--see?"

"Do go, Melky!" urged Zillah tearfully. "Of course, he'd nothing to do
with it. Oh!--I wish I'd never gone out!"

Melky went downstairs. He paused for a moment in the little parlour,
glancing meditatively at the place where the old man had been found dead.
And suddenly his keen eyes saw an object which lay close to the fender,
half hidden by a tassel of the hearthrug, and he stooped and picked it up
--a solitaire stud, made of platinum, and ornamented with a curious
device.



CHAPTER FIVE


THE TWO LETTERS

Once outside the shop, Lauriston turned sharply on the detective.

"Look here!" he said. "I wish you'd just tell me the truth. Am I
suspected? Am I--in some way or other--in custody?"

Ayscough laughed quietly, wagging his head.

"Certainly not in custody," he answered. "And as to the other--well, you
know, Mr. Lauriston, supposing we put it in this way?--suppose you'd been
me, and I'd been you, half-an-hour ago? What would you have thought if