dead friend!"
"She did nothing of the sort!" interposed Hagar, with spirit. "Whosoever pawned the beads, it was not this woman. Besides, how do you know that Rosa killed Mrs. Arryford?"
"She wanted the beads, young woman, and she killed my friend to obtain them."
"No, no! dat one big lie!"
"I am sure it is!" said Hagar, her face aflame. "I believe in your innocence, Rosa. Mr. Horval," she added, turning to the detective, "you can't arrest this woman, as you have no grounds to do so."
"Well, if she didn't pawn those beads---"
"She did not, I tell you."
"She did!" cried Miss Lyle angrily. "I believe you are an accomplice of the creature's!"
What reply Hagar would have made to this accusation it is impossible to say, for at this moment a young man walked into the room. He was good-looking in appearance, and smart in dress, but there was a haggard look about his face which betokened dissipation.
"This," said Miss Lyle, introducing him, "is my nephew, the heir to the property of my late dear friend. He is resolved, as such heir, to find out and punish the assassin of his benefactress. For my part, I believe Rosa to be guilty."
"And I," cried Hagar, with energy, "believe her to be innocent!"
"Let us hope she is," said Jevons, in a weary voice, as he removed his gloves. "I am tired of the whole affair."
"You are bound to punish the guilty!" said Miss Lyle, in hard tones.
"But not the innocent," retorted Hagar, rising.
"Young woman, you are insolent!"
Hagar looked Miss Lyle up and down in the coolest manner; then her eyes wandered to the well-dressed figure of Jevons, the heir. What she saw in him to startle her it is difficult to say; but after a moment's inspection she turned pale with suppressed emotion. Stepping forward, she was about to speak, when, checking herself suddenly, she beckoned to Horval, and advanced towards the door.
"My errand here is fulfilled," she said, quietly. "Mr. Horval, perhaps you will come with me."
"Yes, and you can go also, Rosa," cried Miss Lyle, angered by the insulting gaze of the girl. "I am mistress here in my nephew's house, and I refuse to let a murderess remain under its roof!"
"Be content," said Hagar, pausing at the door. "Rosa shall come with me; and when you see us again with Mr. Horval, you will then learn who killed Mrs. Arryford, and why."
"Insolent hussy!" muttered Miss Lyle, and closed the door on Hagar, Horval and the black woman.
The trio walked away, and shortly afterwards picked up an omnibus, in which they returned to the Lambeth pawnshop. Hagar talked earnestly to Horval the whole way; and from the close attention which the detective paid to her it would seem that the conversation was of the deepest interest. Rosa, a dejected heap of misery, sat with downcast eyes, and at intervals wiped away the tears which ran down her black cheeks. The poor negress, under suspicion as a thief and a murderess, turned out of house and home, desolate and forsaken, was crushed to the earth under the burden of her woes. On her the fetish necklace of amber beads had brought a curse.
On arriving at the shop Hagar conducted Rosa into the back parlor; and after a further conference she dismissed the detective.
"You can stay with me for a week," she said to Rosa.
"And den what you do?"
"Oh," said Hagar, with an agreeable smile, "I shall take you with me to denounce the assassin of your late mistress."
All that week Rosa stayed in the domestic portion of the pawn-shop, and made herself useful in cooking and cleaning. Hagar questioned her closely concerning the events which had taken place on the night of the murder in the house at Bedford Gardens, and elicited certain information which gave her great satisfaction. This she communicated to Horval when he one day paid her a hurried visit. When in possession of the facts, Horval looked at her with admiration, and on taking his leave he paid her a compliment.
"You ought to be a man, with that head of yours," he said; "you're too good to be a woman!"
"And not bad enough to be a man," retorted Hagar, laughing. "Be off with you, Mr. Horval, and let me know when you want me up West."
In four more days Horval again made his appearance, this time in a state of the greatest excitement. He was closeted with Hagar for over an hour, and at its conclusion he departed in a great hurry. Shortly after noon Hagar resigned the shop into Bolker's charge, put on hat and cloak, and ordered Rosa to come with her. What the reason of this unexpected departure might be she did not inform the negress immediately; but before they reached their destination Rosa knew all, and was much rejoiced thereat.
Hagar took Rosa as far as Duke Street, St James's, and here, at the door of a certain house, they found the detective impatiently waiting for them.
"Well, Mr. Horval," said Hagar, coming to a stop, "is he indoors?"
"Safe and sound!" replied Horval, tapping his breastcoat pocket---"and I have got you know what here. Shall we come up?"
"Not immediately. I wish to see him by myself first. You remain outside his door, and enter with Rosa when I call you."
Mr. Horval nodded, with a full comprehension of what was required of him, and the trio ascended the dark staircase. They paused at a door on the second landing. Then Hagar, motioning to her companions that they should withdraw themselves into the gloom, rapped lightly on the portal. Shortly afterwards it was opened by Mr. Frederick Jevons, who looked inquiringly at Hagar. She turned her face towards the light which fell through the murky staircase window, whereat, recognizing her, he stepped back in dismay.
"The pawn-shop girl!" said he in astonishment. "What do you want?"
"I wish to see you," replied Hagar, composedly, "but it is just as well that our conversation should be in private."
"Why, you can have nothing to say to me but what the whole world might hear!"
"After I have mentioned the object of my visit you may think differently," said Hagar, with some dryness. "However, we'll talk here if you wish."
"No, no; come in," said Jevons, standing on one side. "Since you insist upon privacy, you shall have it. This way."
He showed her into a large and rather badly furnished room. Evidently Mr. Fred Jevons had not been rich until he inherited the fortune of Mrs. Arryford.
"I suppose you will be moving to the Bedford Gardens house soon?" said Hagar, sitting composedly in a large armchair.
"Is that what you came to speak to me about?" retorted Jevons, rudely.
"Not exactly. Perhaps, as you are impatient, we had better get to business."
"Business! What business can I have to do with you?"
"Why," said Hagar, quietly, and looking directly at him, "the business of those amber beads which you--pawned."
"I," stammered Jevons, drawing back with a pale face.
"Also,"
