October 10, 2025 • 20 mins
18 - At Christchurch, Hants. The Opal Serpent by Fergus Hume.
An old pawnbroker is found strangled with his lips pinned together with an opal serpent broach. He has a beautiful daughter who is apparently the heir of his large estate. But another claimant has made herself known as the actual daughter of the pawnbroker. Follow detective Hurd as he unravels the convoluted mystery of the old man’s death and attempts to determine who is the rightful heir.
An old pawnbroker is found strangled with his lips pinned together with an opal serpent broach. He has a beautiful daughter who is apparently the heir of his large estate. But another claimant has made herself known as the actual daughter of the pawnbroker. Follow detective Hurd as he unravels the convoluted mystery of the old man’s death and attempts to determine who is the rightful heir.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eighteen of The Opal Serpent by Fergus Hume. This
librivoc's recording is in the public domain, had christ Church Hants.
The next afternoon, Heard was on his way to the
former abode of Missus Krill. During the journey, he glanced
at his notes and arranged what inquiries he should make.
(00:24):
It struck him as strange that Missus Krill should have
told Paul of her association with a red pig, considering
the reputation of the place in connection with Lady Rachel
Sandal's murder or suicide. It would have been better had
Missus Crill changed her name by letters patent and have
started a new life on her dead husband's money. The
(00:47):
detective could not understand the reason for this unnecessary frankness.
Before leaving town, he took the precaution to call on
Posh and note down a description of the sale, presumably Jessop,
who had tried to obtain possession of the jewels. On
the morning after the crime had been committed in Gwynn Street.
(01:09):
He learned that the man who had given no name
was tall and stout, with the flushed skin of an
habitual drinker of strong waters, and reddish hair mixed with gray.
He also had a scar running from his right temple
to his mouth, although this was partly concealed by a beard,
(01:29):
yet it was distinctly visible. The man was dressed in
blue serge, carried his large hands slightly clenched, and rolled
in his gait. Heard noted these things down and had
little doubt but what he would recognize the man if
he came across him, connecting him with the individual who
had pawned the brooch that Stoley hurried, fancied he might
(01:52):
be Jessop. He resolved to look for him in Southampton,
as judging from the evidence given at the inquest on
Lady Rachel's remains, that was the port of call for
the mariner. At the station immediately before that of Christ's Church.
Heard glanced at a telegram, which he produced out of
his pocket book, and then leaned out of the carriage window.
(02:14):
A pretty, daintily dressed little woman saw him, and at
once entered the carriage with a gay laugh. She was
miss Aurora Quien, and Paul would have been considerably astonished
had he overheard her conversation with mister Hurd, But the
detective and the actress had the compartment to themselves and
talked freely. It's the safest place to talk in, explained
(02:39):
missus Queen, producing a bag of chocolate and eating during
the conversation. Of course, I told the landlady at the
Red Pig that my brother was coming down, so we
can go there right enough. But the walls have ears.
I don't think railway carriages have, though, and we have
much to say. Billy, have you found out anything, Aurora asked,
(03:02):
heard miss Quien nodded A great deal, considering I have
been in the place only twenty four hours. It's a
good thing I'm out of an engagement, Billy, or I
shouldn't have time to leave London or to look after
that man. Hay, I am a good sister. Well you are,
but there's money in the business also. If I can
(03:24):
get that thousand pounds, you'll have your share. I know
you'll treat me straight, Billy, said the actress with much satisfaction.
I always say that my brother is a square a man,
as I know the deuce you do, said Hurd rather vexed.
I hope you don't go telling every one that I'm
your brother, Aurora. Only one or two special friends, not hey,
(03:48):
you may be sure. Nor does that nice mister Beecot
know that we are brother and sister. You'd best keep
it dark and say nothing. Aurora. It's just as well
you left the private detail visits and went on the stage.
You talk too much. Oh no, I don't, retorted miss
Quean eating a sweet. Don't be nasty, billy, or I'll
(04:09):
tell you nothing. Her brother shrugged his shoulders. He was
very fond of Aurora, but he saw her many faults,
and she certainly had too long a tongue for one
engaged in private matters. What about, hey, he asked. Aurora
raised her eyes. I thought you wanted to know of
my discoveries at christ Church, he said, pouting. Well I do.
(04:33):
But hey, oh, he's all right. He's going to marry
Miss Krill and her money and is getting cashed together
by fleecing young Sandal. That fool will play and keeps
losing his money. Although I've warned him, then don't warn him.
I wish to catch Hay red handed. Ah, Miss Quinn nodded.
(04:54):
You may catch him red handed in a worse matter
than gambling. Aurora, you don't mean the say has anything
to do with the murder. Of Aaron Norman. Well, I
don't want to go far has to say that, Billy.
But when I got settled in the private sitting room
of the Red Pig on the plea that I had
come down for a change of air and expected my brother,
(05:16):
would you do without any lies? Yes, that's all right, Billy,
she said impatiently. Well, the first thing I clapped eyes
on was a portrait of Grexton Hay in a silver
frame on the mantelpiece, hm said Hurd, nursing his chin
in his hand. He may have given that the Miss
Krill during the engagement. I dare say rejoined the actress tartly,
(05:40):
for he has been engaged for many a long day,
say two years, I thought so, said Hurd triumphantly. I
always fancied the meeting at Pasha's office was a got
up thing. What made you think so? Because when disguised
as Count de la Tour, I overheard Hay address Miss
Krill as and it was the first time she and
(06:03):
her mother came to his rooms. Sandal was there, and
gambling went on as usual. I lost money myself, said
Hurd with a grimace. In order to make Hay think
I was another pigeon to pluck. But the mention of
the Christian name and so short an acquaintance showed me
that Hey and miss Crill had met before. I expect
(06:24):
the meeting at Pasha's office was a got up game.
You said that before, Billy, how you repeat yourself? Yes,
there's an inscription on the portrait from Graxton to Maud
with much love. Sweet, isn't it when you think what
an icicle the man is. There's also a date two
years ago the photograph was given. I admired the photograph
(06:50):
and asked the landlady who was to swell. What's the
landlady's name? Matilda Junk heard almost jumped from his seat.
That's query, said. The woman who is devoted to miss
Norman and who nursed her since she was a baby,
is called Deborah Junk. I know that, said Aurora. I'm
(07:10):
not quite a fool. Billy. I mentioned Deborah Junk, whom
I saw at the inquest on Norman's body. The landlady
said she was her sister, but she had not heard
of her for ages. And this Matilda is just like
Deborah in looks a large Dutch doll with beady eyes
and a badly painted face. Well, that's a point, said herd,
(07:34):
making a note. What did she say about the photograph? Oh,
that it was one of mister Hay, who was miss
Krill's young man, and that they had been engaged for
two years. Matilda seems to be a chatterbox. She is,
I got a lot out of her. Then there can
be nothing to conceal on the part of missus Krill, well,
(07:56):
said Aurora, throwing the empty sweet meat bag out of
the window and brushing her lap. So far as I
can discover, missus Krill is a perfectly respectable person and
has lived for thirty years as the landlady of the
Red Pig. Matilda acknowledged that her mistress had inherited the
money of Lemuel Krill, and Matilda knows all about the murder.
(08:20):
Matilda is wrong, said the detective dryly. Miss Krill gets
the money, Horora smiled. From what I heard, Miss Crill
has to do what her mother tells her. She's nobody
and her mother is all the world. Matilda confessed that
her mistress had behaved very well to her. When the
(08:41):
money came, she gave up the Red Pig to Matilda Junk,
who is now the landlady with a proviso she should
hold her tongue. No, Missus Krill, so far as I
can learn, has nothing to conceal, even if it becomes
known in London that she was a landlady of a
small pub. I don't think it will matter. Did you
(09:04):
ask questions about Lady Rachel's murder? No, you gave me
only a hint when you sent me down. I didn't
like to venture on the ground I wasn't sure of.
I'm more cautious than you. Well, i'll tell you everything now,
said Hurd, and gave a rapid sketch of what he
had learned from the newspapers and the Scotland Yard papers
(09:26):
relative to the sandal of Fair Aurora nodded, but Matilda
Junk said nothing of that. She merely stated that mister
Lemuel Krill had gone to London over twenty years ago,
and that his wife knew nothing of him until she
saw the handbills. Hm said Hurd again, as the train
(09:47):
slowed down to the Christ's Church station. It seems all
fair and above board. What about jessup knowing so little
of the Lady Rachel case I didn't inquire about him?
Said Aurora, I've told you everything. Anyone else stopping at
the inn, No, and it's not a bad little place.
(10:07):
After all. The rooms are clean, and the food's good
and the charges low. I'd rather stop at the Red Pig,
small as it is, than a big hotel. The curries, oh,
they are delightfully hot. Miss Quinn screwed her small face
into a smile of ecstasy. But then a native makes them, heard,
(10:30):
started curries. A native, Yes, a man called Hokar Aurora.
That's the man who left the sugar on the counter
of Norman's shop. I forgot you don't know about that,
and Hurd rapidly told her of the episode. It's strange,
said miss Queen, nodding with a far away look. It
(10:50):
would seem that missus Krill knew of the whereabouts of
her husband before she saw the handbills, and possibly about
the murder, also said heard. Brother and sister looked at
one another. The case was becoming more and more interesting.
Missus Krill evidently knew more than she chose to admit.
(11:12):
But at this moment the train stopped and they got out.
Herd took his hand bag and walked into the town
with his pretty sister. Tripping beside him, she gave him
an additional piece of information before they arrived at the
Red Pig. This whole car is not at all popular,
(11:32):
she said. They say he eats cats and dogs. Yes,
I've talked to several old women, and they say they
lost their animals. One cat was found strangled in the
yard and strangled, interrupted the detective. HM. And the man's
an Indian, possibly a thug. What's a thug, asked Aurora,
(11:54):
staring heard explained I ran through the book lent by
Beecot last night, he added, and was so interested. I
sat up till dawn. You do look chippy, said his
sister candidly. But from what you say, there are no
thugs living. No, the author said, so. Still, it's queer.
(12:15):
This strangling and the cruel way in which the man
was murdered. Just what a Hindoo would do. The sugar too,
Oh nonsense. Hokar left the sugar by mistake. If he
had intended to murder Norman, he wouldn't have given himself away.
I expect he never thought any one would guess he
was a thug. The novel is not one usually read nowadays.
(12:40):
It was the merest chance that miss Norman came across
it and told Beecot. I don't believe in such coincidences,
said Aurora dryly, For in spite of her fluffy, kittenish looks,
she was a very practical person. But here we are
at the Red Pig. Nice and comfy, isn't it? The
end was so certainly very pretty. It stood on the
(13:02):
very verge of the town and beyond stretched fields and
hedge rows. The house itself was a whitewashed, thatched rustic
cottage with a badly painted sign of a large red sew.
Outside were benches where toppers set, and the windows were
delightfully old fashioned diamond pained casements. Quite a Dicken's Inn
(13:27):
of the old coaching days was the Red Pig. But
Heard gave the pretty, quaint hostile only a passing glance.
He was staring at a woman who stood in the doorway,
shading her eyes with the palm of her hand from
the setting sun. In her the detective saw the image
of Deborah Junk now Tawzy. She was of the same
(13:50):
gigantic build, with the same ruddy face, sharp black eyes,
and a boisterous manner. But she had not the kindly
look of Deborah, and of the two sisters, Heard preferred
the one he already knew. This is my brother, miss Junk,
said Aurora, marching up to the door. He will only
(14:12):
stay until tomorrow. You're welcome, sir, said Matilda, in a
loud and hearty voice, which reminded the detective more than
ever of her sister. Will you please walk in and
have some tea? Heard nodded and repaired to the tiny
sitting room, where he saw the photograph of Hay on
the mantelpiece. Aurora had a hint from her brother, went
(14:34):
to her bedroom to change her dress, and Heard spoke
to Matilda when she brought in the tray. I know
your sister, said he. Miss Junk nearly dropped the tray. Lord,
now only think why we ain't wrote to one another
for ten years? And I left London eleven years back.
(14:55):
And how is she, sir? And where is she? She
is well, she has a laundry in Jubilee Town, near London.
She is married to a fellow called Bert Tawsey. Married,
cried Matilda, setting down the tray and put in her
arms at Kimbo, just like Deborah. Lord and me still single.
(15:17):
But now I've got this house and a bit put by,
I'll think of getting a husband. I ain't gonna let
Debby crow over me. Your sister was in the service
of mister Norman before she took up the laundry. Observed
herd pouring out a cup of tea? Was she now
and why did she leave? The name of Norman apparently
(15:39):
was unknown to Matilda, so herd tried to effect another bombshell.
Her master was murdered under the name of Lemuel Krill. Mercy.
Matilda dropped into a chair with a thud which shook
the room. Why that's my lady's husband and father, what
ladies asked her, tending ignorance. My ladies, missus Krill and
(16:03):
miss Maude, they had this house and kept it for years, respectable,
I worked for him ten and when my ladies come
in for a fortune, for a fortune there is they
gave me the good will of the red pig. To
think of Debby being the servant of poor mister Krill
as was killed? Who killed him? Doesn't your mistress know?
(16:28):
She cried Matilda indignantly and bouncing up. Why she was
always a lookin for him? Not as she loved him
over much. Has he is dead, sir? It is no
more has what he ought to be seeing? Has he
killed a poor lady in this very house? You'll sleep
in her room to night? Had it? Matilda? As if
(16:48):
that was a pleasure? Strangled she was? I think I
heard of that, But lady Rachel Sandal committed suicide. Matilda
rubbed her nose after the Deborah fashion. Well, sir, my ladies,
we're never sure which it was, And of course it
was before my time, considerable beIN more nor twenty years back.
(17:11):
But the man as did it is dead and left
my ladies as money as he ought to. And miss
Maud a going to marry a real gent. Matilda glanced
at the photograph. I always said he was a gent,
being so haughty like and wear an evening dress at
meals late? Was he ever down here? This gentleman? He's
(17:32):
been coming and going for months, and miss Maud loves
him something cruel. But they'll marry now and be happy.
I suppose your ladies sometimes went to see this gent
in town, meaning mister Hay, said Matilda artlessly. Well, sir,
they did one at a time, and then together missus
(17:54):
would go and miss would follow, and miss and Missus
together would take their joy of the towers and shops,
and Madam Tussards and such like, mister Hay always looking
after em. Did they ever visit mister Hay in July?
No they didn't, snapped Matilda with a change of tone
(18:15):
which did not escape heard. And I don't know, sir,
why you asked them questions, my good woman, I asked
no questions. If I do, you need not reply. Let
us change the subject. My sister tells me you make
good curries in this hotel. Holkardu me beIN but a
(18:36):
plain cook. Oh he's an Indian, Yes he is, sir,
a poor Indian castaway has Missus took up with when
he come here drenched with rain and weary? Ah, Missus
was always good and kind and Christian like. Privately, Heard
thought this description did not apply very well to the
(18:58):
lady in question, but he was careful not to arouse
Matilda's suspicions again by contradicting her. He pretended to joke,
I wonder you wouldn't marry this Indian and keep him
here always to make the curries I've heard of me
marry a black cried Matilda, tossing her rough head, well, Sir,
(19:21):
I never and her breath failed her and him going
about the country. What do you mean by that? What
I say? Said miss junk. He'll stop here christian like
for days and then go off to sell things as
a hawker. My paw was a hawker, sir, but a white,
white man of the finest heard was about to ask
(19:43):
another question when a husky voice was heard singing somewhat
out of tune. What's that? Asked herd irritably, Lord sir,
what nerves you have? Tis only Captain Jessop making himself
happy like Captain Jessup heard laughed, he had run down
(20:04):
his man At last end of chapter eighteen,
Chapter eighteen of The Opal Serpent by Fergus Hume. This
librivoc's recording is in the public domain, had christ Church Hants.
The next afternoon, Heard was on his way to the
former abode of Missus Krill. During the journey, he glanced
at his notes and arranged what inquiries he should make.
(00:24):
It struck him as strange that Missus Krill should have
told Paul of her association with a red pig, considering
the reputation of the place in connection with Lady Rachel
Sandal's murder or suicide. It would have been better had
Missus Crill changed her name by letters patent and have
started a new life on her dead husband's money. The
(00:47):
detective could not understand the reason for this unnecessary frankness.
Before leaving town, he took the precaution to call on
Posh and note down a description of the sale, presumably Jessop,
who had tried to obtain possession of the jewels. On
the morning after the crime had been committed in Gwynn Street.
(01:09):
He learned that the man who had given no name
was tall and stout, with the flushed skin of an
habitual drinker of strong waters, and reddish hair mixed with gray.
He also had a scar running from his right temple
to his mouth, although this was partly concealed by a beard,
(01:29):
yet it was distinctly visible. The man was dressed in
blue serge, carried his large hands slightly clenched, and rolled
in his gait. Heard noted these things down and had
little doubt but what he would recognize the man if
he came across him, connecting him with the individual who
had pawned the brooch that Stoley hurried, fancied he might
(01:52):
be Jessop. He resolved to look for him in Southampton,
as judging from the evidence given at the inquest on
Lady Rachel's remains, that was the port of call for
the mariner. At the station immediately before that of Christ's Church.
Heard glanced at a telegram, which he produced out of
his pocket book, and then leaned out of the carriage window.
(02:14):
A pretty, daintily dressed little woman saw him, and at
once entered the carriage with a gay laugh. She was
miss Aurora Quien, and Paul would have been considerably astonished
had he overheard her conversation with mister Hurd, But the
detective and the actress had the compartment to themselves and
talked freely. It's the safest place to talk in, explained
(02:39):
missus Queen, producing a bag of chocolate and eating during
the conversation. Of course, I told the landlady at the
Red Pig that my brother was coming down, so we
can go there right enough. But the walls have ears.
I don't think railway carriages have, though, and we have
much to say. Billy, have you found out anything, Aurora asked,
(03:02):
heard miss Quien nodded A great deal, considering I have
been in the place only twenty four hours. It's a
good thing I'm out of an engagement, Billy, or I
shouldn't have time to leave London or to look after
that man. Hay, I am a good sister. Well you are,
but there's money in the business also. If I can
(03:24):
get that thousand pounds, you'll have your share. I know
you'll treat me straight, Billy, said the actress with much satisfaction.
I always say that my brother is a square a man,
as I know the deuce you do, said Hurd rather vexed.
I hope you don't go telling every one that I'm
your brother, Aurora. Only one or two special friends, not hey,
(03:48):
you may be sure. Nor does that nice mister Beecot
know that we are brother and sister. You'd best keep
it dark and say nothing. Aurora. It's just as well
you left the private detail visits and went on the stage.
You talk too much. Oh no, I don't, retorted miss
Quean eating a sweet. Don't be nasty, billy, or I'll
(04:09):
tell you nothing. Her brother shrugged his shoulders. He was
very fond of Aurora, but he saw her many faults,
and she certainly had too long a tongue for one
engaged in private matters. What about, hey, he asked. Aurora
raised her eyes. I thought you wanted to know of
my discoveries at christ Church, he said, pouting. Well I do.
(04:33):
But hey, oh, he's all right. He's going to marry
Miss Krill and her money and is getting cashed together
by fleecing young Sandal. That fool will play and keeps
losing his money. Although I've warned him, then don't warn him.
I wish to catch Hay red handed. Ah, Miss Quinn nodded.
(04:54):
You may catch him red handed in a worse matter
than gambling. Aurora, you don't mean the say has anything
to do with the murder. Of Aaron Norman. Well, I
don't want to go far has to say that, Billy.
But when I got settled in the private sitting room
of the Red Pig on the plea that I had
come down for a change of air and expected my brother,
(05:16):
would you do without any lies? Yes, that's all right, Billy,
she said impatiently. Well, the first thing I clapped eyes
on was a portrait of Grexton Hay in a silver
frame on the mantelpiece, hm said Hurd, nursing his chin
in his hand. He may have given that the Miss
Krill during the engagement. I dare say rejoined the actress tartly,
(05:40):
for he has been engaged for many a long day,
say two years, I thought so, said Hurd triumphantly. I
always fancied the meeting at Pasha's office was a got
up thing. What made you think so? Because when disguised
as Count de la Tour, I overheard Hay address Miss
Krill as and it was the first time she and
(06:03):
her mother came to his rooms. Sandal was there, and
gambling went on as usual. I lost money myself, said
Hurd with a grimace. In order to make Hay think
I was another pigeon to pluck. But the mention of
the Christian name and so short an acquaintance showed me
that Hey and miss Crill had met before. I expect
(06:24):
the meeting at Pasha's office was a got up game.
You said that before, Billy, how you repeat yourself? Yes,
there's an inscription on the portrait from Graxton to Maud
with much love. Sweet, isn't it when you think what
an icicle the man is. There's also a date two
years ago the photograph was given. I admired the photograph
(06:50):
and asked the landlady who was to swell. What's the
landlady's name? Matilda Junk heard almost jumped from his seat.
That's query, said. The woman who is devoted to miss
Norman and who nursed her since she was a baby,
is called Deborah Junk. I know that, said Aurora. I'm
(07:10):
not quite a fool. Billy. I mentioned Deborah Junk, whom
I saw at the inquest on Norman's body. The landlady
said she was her sister, but she had not heard
of her for ages. And this Matilda is just like
Deborah in looks a large Dutch doll with beady eyes
and a badly painted face. Well, that's a point, said herd,
(07:34):
making a note. What did she say about the photograph? Oh,
that it was one of mister Hay, who was miss
Krill's young man, and that they had been engaged for
two years. Matilda seems to be a chatterbox. She is,
I got a lot out of her. Then there can
be nothing to conceal on the part of missus Krill, well,
(07:56):
said Aurora, throwing the empty sweet meat bag out of
the window and brushing her lap. So far as I
can discover, missus Krill is a perfectly respectable person and
has lived for thirty years as the landlady of the
Red Pig. Matilda acknowledged that her mistress had inherited the
money of Lemuel Krill, and Matilda knows all about the murder.
(08:20):
Matilda is wrong, said the detective dryly. Miss Krill gets
the money, Horora smiled. From what I heard, Miss Crill
has to do what her mother tells her. She's nobody
and her mother is all the world. Matilda confessed that
her mistress had behaved very well to her. When the
(08:41):
money came, she gave up the Red Pig to Matilda Junk,
who is now the landlady with a proviso she should
hold her tongue. No, Missus Krill, so far as I
can learn, has nothing to conceal, even if it becomes
known in London that she was a landlady of a
small pub. I don't think it will matter. Did you
(09:04):
ask questions about Lady Rachel's murder? No, you gave me
only a hint when you sent me down. I didn't
like to venture on the ground I wasn't sure of.
I'm more cautious than you. Well, i'll tell you everything now,
said Hurd, and gave a rapid sketch of what he
had learned from the newspapers and the Scotland Yard papers
(09:26):
relative to the sandal of Fair Aurora nodded, but Matilda
Junk said nothing of that. She merely stated that mister
Lemuel Krill had gone to London over twenty years ago,
and that his wife knew nothing of him until she
saw the handbills. Hm said Hurd again, as the train
(09:47):
slowed down to the Christ's Church station. It seems all
fair and above board. What about jessup knowing so little
of the Lady Rachel case I didn't inquire about him?
Said Aurora, I've told you everything. Anyone else stopping at
the inn, No, and it's not a bad little place.
(10:07):
After all. The rooms are clean, and the food's good
and the charges low. I'd rather stop at the Red Pig,
small as it is, than a big hotel. The curries, oh,
they are delightfully hot. Miss Quinn screwed her small face
into a smile of ecstasy. But then a native makes them, heard,
(10:30):
started curries. A native, Yes, a man called Hokar Aurora.
That's the man who left the sugar on the counter
of Norman's shop. I forgot you don't know about that,
and Hurd rapidly told her of the episode. It's strange,
said miss Queen, nodding with a far away look. It
(10:50):
would seem that missus Krill knew of the whereabouts of
her husband before she saw the handbills, and possibly about
the murder, also said heard. Brother and sister looked at
one another. The case was becoming more and more interesting.
Missus Krill evidently knew more than she chose to admit.
(11:12):
But at this moment the train stopped and they got out.
Herd took his hand bag and walked into the town
with his pretty sister. Tripping beside him, she gave him
an additional piece of information before they arrived at the
Red Pig. This whole car is not at all popular,
(11:32):
she said. They say he eats cats and dogs. Yes,
I've talked to several old women, and they say they
lost their animals. One cat was found strangled in the
yard and strangled, interrupted the detective. HM. And the man's
an Indian, possibly a thug. What's a thug, asked Aurora,
(11:54):
staring heard explained I ran through the book lent by
Beecot last night, he added, and was so interested. I
sat up till dawn. You do look chippy, said his
sister candidly. But from what you say, there are no
thugs living. No, the author said, so. Still, it's queer.
(12:15):
This strangling and the cruel way in which the man
was murdered. Just what a Hindoo would do. The sugar too,
Oh nonsense. Hokar left the sugar by mistake. If he
had intended to murder Norman, he wouldn't have given himself away.
I expect he never thought any one would guess he
was a thug. The novel is not one usually read nowadays.
(12:40):
It was the merest chance that miss Norman came across
it and told Beecot. I don't believe in such coincidences,
said Aurora dryly, For in spite of her fluffy, kittenish looks,
she was a very practical person. But here we are
at the Red Pig. Nice and comfy, isn't it? The
end was so certainly very pretty. It stood on the
(13:02):
very verge of the town and beyond stretched fields and
hedge rows. The house itself was a whitewashed, thatched rustic
cottage with a badly painted sign of a large red sew.
Outside were benches where toppers set, and the windows were
delightfully old fashioned diamond pained casements. Quite a Dicken's Inn
(13:27):
of the old coaching days was the Red Pig. But
Heard gave the pretty, quaint hostile only a passing glance.
He was staring at a woman who stood in the doorway,
shading her eyes with the palm of her hand from
the setting sun. In her the detective saw the image
of Deborah Junk now Tawzy. She was of the same
(13:50):
gigantic build, with the same ruddy face, sharp black eyes,
and a boisterous manner. But she had not the kindly
look of Deborah, and of the two sisters, Heard preferred
the one he already knew. This is my brother, miss Junk,
said Aurora, marching up to the door. He will only
(14:12):
stay until tomorrow. You're welcome, sir, said Matilda, in a
loud and hearty voice, which reminded the detective more than
ever of her sister. Will you please walk in and
have some tea? Heard nodded and repaired to the tiny
sitting room, where he saw the photograph of Hay on
the mantelpiece. Aurora had a hint from her brother, went
(14:34):
to her bedroom to change her dress, and Heard spoke
to Matilda when she brought in the tray. I know
your sister, said he. Miss Junk nearly dropped the tray. Lord,
now only think why we ain't wrote to one another
for ten years? And I left London eleven years back.
(14:55):
And how is she, sir? And where is she? She
is well, she has a laundry in Jubilee Town, near London.
She is married to a fellow called Bert Tawsey. Married,
cried Matilda, setting down the tray and put in her
arms at Kimbo, just like Deborah. Lord and me still single.
(15:17):
But now I've got this house and a bit put by,
I'll think of getting a husband. I ain't gonna let
Debby crow over me. Your sister was in the service
of mister Norman before she took up the laundry. Observed
herd pouring out a cup of tea? Was she now
and why did she leave? The name of Norman apparently
(15:39):
was unknown to Matilda, so herd tried to effect another bombshell.
Her master was murdered under the name of Lemuel Krill. Mercy.
Matilda dropped into a chair with a thud which shook
the room. Why that's my lady's husband and father, what
ladies asked her, tending ignorance. My ladies, missus Krill and
(16:03):
miss Maude, they had this house and kept it for years, respectable,
I worked for him ten and when my ladies come
in for a fortune, for a fortune there is they
gave me the good will of the red pig. To
think of Debby being the servant of poor mister Krill
as was killed? Who killed him? Doesn't your mistress know?
(16:28):
She cried Matilda indignantly and bouncing up. Why she was
always a lookin for him? Not as she loved him
over much. Has he is dead, sir? It is no
more has what he ought to be seeing? Has he
killed a poor lady in this very house? You'll sleep
in her room to night? Had it? Matilda? As if
(16:48):
that was a pleasure? Strangled she was? I think I
heard of that, But lady Rachel Sandal committed suicide. Matilda
rubbed her nose after the Deborah fashion. Well, sir, my ladies,
we're never sure which it was, And of course it
was before my time, considerable beIN more nor twenty years back.
(17:11):
But the man as did it is dead and left
my ladies as money as he ought to. And miss
Maud a going to marry a real gent. Matilda glanced
at the photograph. I always said he was a gent,
being so haughty like and wear an evening dress at
meals late? Was he ever down here? This gentleman? He's
(17:32):
been coming and going for months, and miss Maud loves
him something cruel. But they'll marry now and be happy.
I suppose your ladies sometimes went to see this gent
in town, meaning mister Hay, said Matilda artlessly. Well, sir,
they did one at a time, and then together missus
(17:54):
would go and miss would follow, and miss and Missus
together would take their joy of the towers and shops,
and Madam Tussards and such like, mister Hay always looking
after em. Did they ever visit mister Hay in July?
No they didn't, snapped Matilda with a change of tone
(18:15):
which did not escape heard. And I don't know, sir,
why you asked them questions, my good woman, I asked
no questions. If I do, you need not reply. Let
us change the subject. My sister tells me you make
good curries in this hotel. Holkardu me beIN but a
(18:36):
plain cook. Oh he's an Indian, Yes he is, sir,
a poor Indian castaway has Missus took up with when
he come here drenched with rain and weary? Ah, Missus
was always good and kind and Christian like. Privately, Heard
thought this description did not apply very well to the
(18:58):
lady in question, but he was careful not to arouse
Matilda's suspicions again by contradicting her. He pretended to joke,
I wonder you wouldn't marry this Indian and keep him
here always to make the curries I've heard of me
marry a black cried Matilda, tossing her rough head, well, Sir,
(19:21):
I never and her breath failed her and him going
about the country. What do you mean by that? What
I say? Said miss junk. He'll stop here christian like
for days and then go off to sell things as
a hawker. My paw was a hawker, sir, but a white,
white man of the finest heard was about to ask
(19:43):
another question when a husky voice was heard singing somewhat
out of tune. What's that? Asked herd irritably, Lord sir,
what nerves you have? Tis only Captain Jessop making himself
happy like Captain Jessup heard laughed, he had run down
(20:04):
his man At last end of chapter eighteen,
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