The Black Patch

eath was apparently buried with him, and Hurstable again became a somnolent hamlet, devoid of news and intelligence. In spite of every effort, the police were un

ivity and uselessness of the police, and, save in a rare paragraph, ceased

trice, and appeared to be more devoted than ever to the girl. But he said nothing about the various mysteries he had hinted at, nor did Beatrice inquire very closely what they might be. She saw very plainly that both Durban and Vivian were determined that she should know as little as possible--for what reason she could not imagine--and therefore, in pursuance of her determination, she cast about to find some path which might lead to a discovery of the truth, whatever that might be. She wished to learn who had killed Alpenny, and thought that, by examining int

w. Accordingly, Beatrice, two weeks after the burial of her stepfather, was seated in the Grange garden waiting for the housekeeper. Mrs. Lilly had first to attend to her work, but promised that as soon as it was ended she would come out and chat. As Dinah had gone over to the Rectory to see Mrs. Snow, Beatrice was quite alone. S

y. But there was some curse on the place and on the race, for the family never prospered overmuch, and when the property came to Vivian Paslow, he was as poor as an English gentleman of long descent well can be. Nevertheless, he still clung to the old mansion, although he could have sold it at an advantageous price to an American millionaire. In some wonderful way he managed to scrape enough money together

ng escutcheon of the Paslow family. What with the queer pointed roofs, the twisted stacks of chimneys, the diamond-paned casements, and the prim gardens, the place looked particularly delightful. A poet could have dreamed away his days in this rustic paradise, and Beatrice felt as though she were in the land of the Lotos-eaters. But even as she slipped into vague dream

he had never been away from the Weald of Sussex for one solitary day out of a long length of years; and she had no patience--as she frequently stated--with the new-fangled notions of modern life (of which, it may be remarked incidentally, she knew no more than a child unborn!). Beatrice l

der it is, seeing that Polly and Molly"--these were the two servants--"are so lazy. But I have had the rooms brushed, and the dinner is ordered, and ev

some years, was quite familiar with her. "Have you got your knitting?" Mrs. Lilly was always knitting

, mounting her spectacles, and

l Hall'

with dismay; "do you really wish me

nd you promis

?" said Mrs. Lilly in coaxing tones; "that's

Hall's death,

you wish

it wise to admit Mrs. Lilly into her confidence too larg

our stepfather should have been murdered by

with Mrs. S

hardly say that. Certainly a black patch, that could have been worn over an eye, was

seen, then?" inte

he purpose of disguise. There was a great stir about the matter, as Colonel Hall was well known as a Government officia

that is all about the black patch. I saw Mr. Alpenny's murderer wearing it, you kn

should not run about the woods at night: it isn't ladylike

d by such a man. As it was, I felt too worn-out to be startled by anything. Whe

erness, you know. Yes; she and Mrs. Hall were at school together, and Mrs. Hall made her a kind of companion. After the murder, and when Mrs. Hall went back to the West

d Beatrice thoughtfully. "And who is

s. Snow's, I dare say. Mrs. Snow always said everybody had been to school

Mrs. Hall and

his bearing, my dear. Mr. Paslow--the father of Master

Mrs.

, and that was the night of the murder. I d

she like t

She seemed to be very much afraid of her husband, and rarely spoke to him. She came down with

"she died of consumption, you know, Mr

as called, to The Camp. She never came out, and no one ever saw her. When she was buried, everyone was quite amazed to hear tha

s he was deeply

save himself," declared Mrs. Lilly sharply. "I detested

edge. "I did not like him myself,

e to Master Vivian. But perhaps Lady Watson will not be so hard to satisfy as Mr. Alpenny, and Master Vivian may be able to arrange, as

not said a thing

ou about the matter. He was Col

this intelligence. "Do you mean to say that

me say so?" said

never explain

rder of his master. He was the Colonel's servant, and came with him fr

ge," murmured the gir

olonel was buried, and Mrs. Hall went back to the West Indies with the baby, Durba

d to me," said Beatrice p

ed Durban about your mother's marriage, and about your re

Beatrice, quite perplexed over th

sumed the old lady, "being a dear friend of my late master. Durban was with him, and Mr. Alpenny was in the house at the time. Later on, Mrs. Hall came down with the baby and the nurse, and with Mrs. Snow, who was then Miss Dun

n witchcraft,"

ch he kept beside his bed. The box contained official papers, and also the Obi necklace. I understand that Colonel Hall intended to give it to his wife; but as there was some difference between them, he did not give it to her. But when sh

hen?" asked Beatr

w that she went from one fainting fit into another, and the doctor said that she would die unless she was taken out of the house. So she a

nd the bl

air. His bedroom was on the first floor of the west wing, and the ivy offered a foothold to any one who wanted to climb up. As the black patch was found on the grass below the window

Alpenny," mur

gh! it was a sight. Then the murderer went off with the necklace. The police tried to trace him by

sin was ne

nd-twenty years ago, so I don't

at he has committe

g and removed her spectacles. "D

was cut; Mr. Alpenny was treated in the same way. Colonel Hall was robbed of this necklace; Mr. Alpenny was robbed also.

ould there be?" aske

so the plunder could have been easily carried off safely. But in each c

can tell you nothing more," she said, after a pause. "O

is Or

epherd on the Downs yonder," and Mrs. Lilly nodded towards the

about that," she observed, thoughtfully. "

id he would have to live in the open air. At all events he left the house, and when we next heard of him he was a shepherd on the Downs. He is well known, I believe, an

said Beatrice. "I want to lea

sward before them. They looked up to see a small, di

this creature; "I'm Wa