Fergus Hume

“ It was easy for her to recognize Slanton’s voice, as he babbled, crazily, about the Whispering Lane—about More and Wessbury. Finding the man who had ruined her lover at her mercy, she killed him—strangled him deliberately, as she admitted to me with great satisfaction. There was no repentance about Jenny,” ended Trant, positively. “She thought that she had done well to rid the world of a black villain, an out and out swine, as she called him.”
“Oh, Jenny, poor, foolish Jenny,” mourned Aileen, remembering the girl’s good qualities.
“Did Rackham know all this? ”

“ Jenny was a cave-woman, Aileen, ignorantly evil with a spark of good in her make-up.”
The girl returned to her seat, thankful to the core of her being, but pale with emotion. “How awful father’s revenge has been,” she said in low tones. “Dr. Slanton dead—Edith dead—Jenny dead. If he had not plotted——”
“If Slanton had not plotted, you mean, Aileen,” struck in the Inspector. “He was hoisted on his own petard I tell you. Roderick’s death, his own death, and the death of Miss Danby and Jenny—these were due to him alone. He brought into being the cause which produced such terrible effects.” ”

“ Trant unbuttoned his overcoat and opened it widely. “I’m hot with running. And at my age too. But I only got at the truth early this evening in the London hospital where the girl lies, and, knowing Aileen’s anxiety, I came down immediately with the good news.”
“You dear!” fully restored to herself Aileen sprang from her chair and crossed over to kiss this welcome herald of good fortune, “Oh, how can I thank you enough for saving my poor Edith’s memory from disgrace?”
“Your thanks are due to Jenny!” said the officer, patting her hand. ”

“ Our discoveries have only made matters worse for her. I am glad she is in her grave, poor creature.”
“So am I. But I want people to think kindly of her.”
“I wish they would, but they won’t,” responded the young man, gloomily. “Everyone thinks that the unfortunate woman is guilty—doubly guilty. ”

“ Now that she has been proved innocent of the second, it is more than probable that they will reconsider things, and credit her with being innocent of the first. Also Miss Danby’s desire to return the money to Aileen and her father takes away any motive for her killing Roderick. ”