Fergus Hume

“ Mrs. Jerr continued to knit composedly. “Ah, well, he might have called or he might not. I see dozens of these nuisances, and no offence to you, Mr. Hustings.”
“I can understand how you feel worried, Mrs. Jerr. But this Dr. Slanton——”
The old lady’s needles suddenly stopped clicking, and she dropped her work with a sudden start.
“Slanton? The man who has been murdered by that woman Danby in some Essex village?”
“Fryfeld! Yes! But she did not murder him.” ”

“ Me no see!”
“Are you quite sure?” inquired the old lady sharply.
“Me no see,” repeated Wu Ti, phlegmatically.
“Thank you,” said Hustings, despondingly, restoring the photograph to his pocket, “it seems to me that I am on a wild goose chase.”
“Hope for the best, Mr. Hustings,” said Mrs. Jerr, kindly, “there may be something in your idea after all. I am sorry that I cannot help you. Excuse my not rising to say good-bye. Rheumatism, you know. I am a great sufferer.”
“Please don’t apologize,” said Dick, accepting his dismissal, “it is I who should do that, for visiting you at so late an hour. ”

“ I believe that there is a physical explanation of this so-called super-physical business.”
“I wish you could give it to me then,” said the old lady, eagerly. “I want to be left in peace.”
“But you are going away you told me.”
“I am. What with the Voice and the many silly fools who come here at all times to question me about the Voice—as if I knew anything—I am quite tired of the whole business. ”

“ How can I help you?” Mrs. Jerr stopped knitting and glared her utter astonishment.
“By telling me if Slanton came down here,” and while saying this Dick produced the patched photograph from his pocket. “Do you know that face?”
The old lady took the photograph, studied it closely then handed it back with a shake of her head. “No! If Dr. Slanton—I suppose this is a photograph of Dr. Slanton—came to the lane, he never came here. Yet one moment. Pull the bell,” she pointed to a thick silk cord dangling on Dick’s side of the fire-place. “Wu Ti may have seen him. Wu Ti sees many people I don’t.” ”

“ Why not? Until I find a new house, I shall stay at a London hotel. Let me see! Oh, write to my Bank—The Empire Bank”—and she gave a number and a street in the City, which Dick noted down—“anything I can do will be done willingly. Wu Ti!”
In answer to her signal the Chinaman glided forward to throw open the door towards which Hustings moved, after bowing his farewell. Just as he was about to leave the room, Mrs. Jerr called a halt. “That young girl who gave evidence at the inquest.” ”

“ But I wish to——”
“Satisfy that client of yours,” finished Mrs. Jerr, meaningly. “Well then, tell your client to take this bungalow from Mr. Chane when I leave it, and then your client will know all that I, or anyone else, knows. I am going away next week, or the week afterwards at the latest.”
“My client is a lady,” ventured Dick, cautiously feeling his way.
“Well?” inquired Mrs. Jerr, shortly.
“A man who wishes to marry her is also interested in this business.” ”