The Yellow Holly

her elbows on the table, and a saucer of tea at h

mansion, and knew more than was good for him. "If they drained them marsh

," grunted the cook.

ed Jarvey, devouring

nd was sneered at by the company generally as a foreigner. Jarvey was particularly insolent, and poor Fritz was reduced

was likely to continue alight during the day, as the fog was as thick as ever. The servants collected round the table were having an early cup of tea. To assist the p

of hers," said the cook. "Twice she sai

his short hair. "They've been quarreling awful

ing to say to that," chimed in the

akes much of her, a

is a cat. If the mistress died, Miss Margery would govern the house, and Miss

stray dog, and as sharp. I don't care for old Miss Bull, or for

you will be no v

gy," snapped Jarvey, a

ng it from his mouth, flung it into the fire. "Here's Madame's te

om at seven o'clock. After this refresher she gave audience to the cook, looked over her tradesmen's books, and complained generally that the servants were not doing their duty. Madame was not at her best in the morning, an

ing to begin their duties, when a crash was heard and then a clatter of boots, "There," cried the cook, "that bra

his eyes starting from his head. The servants huddled together in fear, and the cook seized the toasting-fork. They all agreed with h

about blood?" aske

d. "I see her all covered with blood. Oh--mother--oh, I want my mot

istance from the front door. The next moment they were out again, all shrieking murder and calling loudly for the police. The sleeping boarders took the alarm, and in the lightest of attire appeared on the stairs with w

g wound in her neck. And it was Miss Bull who sent the servants back to the kitchen, who closed the door of the death-chamber, and who told Jarvey to fetch the nearest policeman. Consequently it was Miss Bull whom the inspector addressed, as she seemed to be the sole person in authority. Mrs. Taine retreated to her bedroom with a prayer-book, Mr. Granger went for a walk in the fog, Margery sa

posted his men and was alone with Miss Bull i

ing," she said in her monotonous voice. "Last night we had our usual reception, but it broke up at ten o'clock. Madame dismissed the guests

sey's niece sl

hortly after the clock struck the hour. I am sure Margery had nothing to do with it. She was quite devote

which he found of great service in hiding his thoughts when examining those he suspected. He certainly did not suspect Miss Bull,

door," mused Inspector Quex.

me always locked the front door every night herself and kept t

ed it thi

the key would be i

it

l, and then have gone to put the light out

t before

ten. But Margery may have seen some one as s

l," said Quex, and ent

ven if it had not been, no one could have climbed in, as Quex saw that the area was below. "And Mad

her. "It seems to me that the decease

lder, and, as I have stated, was particular as to bolts and bars. But she was a

u great

n an extremely rude manner, and had she lived I should have given h

eak the truth then," said Quex, cyni

om behind, and killed before she had time to cry out. Her arms were on the table, and her head had fallen forward. The furniture of the room was

her must have been

ll a defenseless woman," said Miss Bu

at I mean is that Mrs. Jersey k

, and Quex was astonished that she should dare to contradict. "S

t have entered the room, and un

particularly

is not disturbed, therefore we can argue from this that Mrs. Jersey was in friendly conversation with the assassin. She was seated at the table, and the assassin was at

enemies that

id Quex, coolly. "You have not

that Madame had any friends either. She w

w anything

n, and was very comfortable, save that Madame and I disagreed on many points. She was always rude to me, an

he wound onto the table-cloth. The blow must have been struck strongly and surely, and with the power of a deadly hatred. It was at this moment that the doctor arrived, and, turning the body over to him, Quex conducted Miss Bull back to the drawi

ed the greatest indignation. "How dare you accuse a gentleman

?" asked Quex

desired. There was no intimation that none were to leave the hou

uming, and seeing also that such a senile creature, with so sheepli

e innocent people

ou tell me what you did with yourself since

and to bed. The last I saw of Madame she was standing on the door-step bidding farewell to her guests. In the morning

u see t

he body, till

locked the door," put

be disturbed in the room till the po

uex, approvingly. "You have a

the old maid, nodding, "and I inh

iss Bull. The old maid held Margery's hand and coaxed her into answering when she proved rec

lady?" he asked, indicating Miss Bu

nce' in Miss Bull's be

time did

ven--just

the hour when you were

g to collect her wits, "w

It would only take you a few minute

nd Margery's is on the fourth, right above my head. You could

ted the girl, "but my

you speak to your

scolded me for being out of bed at that hour

ly. "Oh, I can well understand what she said. But it would seem, M

ht his business even by so clever a person as Miss B

k struck eleven, and she called me names. She then took me by the arm and pushed me into my

o that?" asked

he wouldn't have me wandering about the house at all hours of the night an

ome this morning as usual I was anxious. When the alarm came I went to look for Marge

eem, then, that the deceased simply turned the key and

It was spite on her part," she said. "Ma

hand fondly. It was strange, thought the inspector, that so clever and refined a woman

ndon was gloomy, for in the unexpected death of Mrs. Jersey he saw the downfall of his hopes of proving his legitimacy. "There's no cha

never expected that my search for types would lead me into

an't

th has anything to d

hed face. "Train," he said sharply, "whatever you

me might lead to the dis

ily, and rising to his feet to emphasize his

y anything. But

ame to see Mrs. Jersey, and this morning I should have had the truth out of her. But sh

rd, dominated by the strong will of

ied George, restlessly. "How

"And a most unpleasant one. Here I shall have t

ry will y

one I told to you

"you can rely upon me. I shall not

ave done nothing wrong. Even if my tale were told I could

t for one moment," pro

et it into his stupid head that--well." Brendon broke off abruptly. "I don't know what he

re after what has occurred. It's terrible. To think of that

sharply at the young man. "Why did yo

-room I didn't like to think of her prowling about. One

to murder you?" aske

ettled, "but I didn't want her to come into my rooms,

r bedroo

; so both you and I were q

g-room door she could as little enter as you or I could go out. Leonard--" he paused an

ou and I ar

ant matter the better. I suppose we in common with every one else here, will be called to give evidence

man in the world to wish to pursue the subject. But

endon, "unless Mrs. Jersey

he sitting-room door, and that was about half-past e

euce y

ed to see if all was quiet. I dist

t as she alone could have let that visitor out, and as she mus

killed her and then have

as locked as usual, and that she took the key this morning to open it from Mrs. Jersey's pocket. No, Train, the person

he had retired to bed at eleven and had heard nothing. Brendon made

the house was in bed by eleven o'clock; the majority, indeed, before that hour. Jarvey had been the last to retire, at half-past ten o'clock, and then he had left Madame in her sitting-room with a book and a glass of negus. She sent him off in a hurry and with,

de his examination; "but I can go only by the condition of the body. I should say a

fe?" said t

h. He proved beyond doubt that Mrs. Jersey must have died almost immediately with hardly a groan. For some reason Quex took one and all into the chamber of death and showed them the corpse. Perhaps he expected that the sight would shake the n