This long conversation had somewhat Jaggard, who was yet weak, so, telling him to cease from talking, Jen recalled the housemaid, and left the room to think over all that he had learned. The story of Jaggard convinced him more than ever that Dr. Etwald was the cause of all the terrible events which had occurred within the last few weeks. Without doubt it was he who had hidden Dido in the of death. After drugging Jaggard, the negress no doubt had opened the window to admit Etwald, and between them this precious pair had carried off the dead body. But for what reason? This Jen could not determine.  
To learn the truth, he thought it advisable to call at "The Wigwam" and Dido. With the evidence of Jaggard to go on, the major felt satisfied that he could by threatening her with arrest, force her into confessing the whole plot. Who had thieved the devil-stick? Who had Maurice? Who had stolen the body? , Etwald was the who was guilty of all three crimes, and the evidence of Dido would be sufficient to convict him of the deeds.
 
"Yes," said Jen to himself that night, as he to bed, "to-day I have learned sufficient to Etwald; to-morrow I shall be able to convict him. Dido must confess or go to prison."
 
Angered by the selfish way in which David had acted, Jen did not communicate his discoveries to the young man. During the night he took counsel with himself, and the next morning he acted upon the plans which he had formed. These were, to see Dido and force the truth from her, to send Battersea to Deanminster to fetch both Arkel and Dr. Etwald to "Ashantee," and finally to communicate his discoveries to the and get him to arrest Etwald. Once in prison, and the doctor, by a fear of death at the hands of justice, might confess his crimes, and his reasons for committing them. This course was the only one to pursue.
 
After breakfast, therefore, the major wrote two notes. One for Arkel, asking him to be at "Ashantee" by noon, as the writer had important matters to discuss; the other for Etwald, requesting him to call and see Jaggard, who, added Jen, significantly in the letter, had recovered his senses. Having thus prepared his trap for the doctor to walk into, Jen delivered the letters to Battersea, with instructions to set off at once for Deanminster. The tramp, anxious to keep in favor with Jen for cupboard reasons, lost no time in departing, and when the major had seen him safely out of the gates, he took his way toward "The Wigwam" for the all-important interview with Dido.
 
Before his departure he had left a message for David, who had not made his appearance at breakfast, requesting the young man to be in the library at noon.
 
"If I can force the truth out of Dido," thought Jen, strolling slowly along in the hot sunshine, "I may get the better of Etwald. Then, when David sees that the doctor is in the trap, and in danger of arrest for murder, he may relate what he knows. Though upon my word," considered the major, frowning, "I don't see what information he can possibly add to what I have obtained from Jaggard, or what I am likely to from the lips of Dido. Etwald is the guilty person. David can tell me no more than that."
 
On arriving at "The Wigwam," Jen presented his card, and was shown into the drawing-room, there to wait the arrival of Mrs. Dallas. Although it was nearly eleven o'clock the indolent Creole was not yet out of bed, but on hearing that the major had called to see her, she sent Dido to inform him that she would shortly accord him an interview. The negress, as gloomy and as ever, delivered this message with folded arms and head. Then, without even a look at him, she turned to leave the room, when Jen placed himself between her and the door.
 
"Not yet. Dido," he said, in a cold voice. "It is true that I called to see your mistress; but I wish to speak to you also."
 
Dido started, and cast an inquiring look at the impassive face of the white man.
 
"What you wish, sah?" she said, in a grave voice, as emotionless as that of Jen's.
 
"To ask you a few questions about the devil-stick."
 
"Massa, I say all I know ob de debble-stick!"
 
"Indeed, you did not. Dido. You did not inform me that by Dr. Etwald's directions you filled the devil-stick with poison, or that you steeped the handkerchief found in the room of Mr. Alymer in the same poison for the purpose of drugging my servant; or again, that you yourself under the bed, and drugged him."
 
A kind of terror showed itself in the eyes of the negress. She could not understand how Jen had become of a knowledge of her crimes, and at first was struck with by the .
 
Speedily, however, she recovered herself, and with a dark smile of contempt and pity she was about to deny all, when Jen brought out his last .
 
"Nor," said he, fixing his eyes on the woman, "did you confess that you opened the window of Mr. Alymer's room, and aided Dr. Etwald to carry away the dead body?"
 
"De--de--dead--dead!" she , shrinking back.
 
"Yes, the dead body of Mr. Alymer, which you and Dr. Etwald took to his house at Deanminster. No denial, woman," said Jen, raising his voice, as she was about to speak. "I see by your face that you are guilty."
 
Dido trembled all over, whether from rage or fear Jen could not determine, and opened her mouth to give the lie to her accuser. Then she shut it again, as a heavy step was heard outside the door. A moment later and Mrs. Dallas, with a face of , was on the threshold of the room; and Dido at her feet was making the room like a jungle with howlings like those of a wild beast. All the nature of the woman was now on the surface, and had broken through the sullen restraint of her impassive . "What is the meaning of this?" demanded Mrs. Dallas, with an uneasy glance at the negress.
 
"I shall explain when Dido stops her howling," said Jen, quite undisturbed.
 
"Dido! Dido!" Mrs. Dallas, shaking the woman. "Rise; stop."
 
"Oh, missy! missy!" wept the negress, getting onto her feet. "It all am a lie, what dat massa say. Poo' ole Dido know nuffin'--do nuffin'. Lordy! Lordy! de big lie."
 
Major Jen took Dido by the shoulder, and giving her a good shake, commanded her to be silent. At once the negress--who was evidently a part--ceased her outcries, and after casting her eyes significantly at her mistress, stared at the floor. Mrs. Dallas turned pale at this rapid glance, and was obliged to take a seat to prevent herself from falling. Not a detail of this by-play was lost upon Jen, who saw in the cond............