The unfortunate Mr. Johnson was so dazed by the many that were made against him, that this last astonished him scarcely so much as it should have done. He stared at Captain Jacob in blank bewilderment, and it was some time before he made any reply. His silence was misunderstood by the blackmailer--for Shackel was nothing else--who proceeded with his attack in more terms.  
"I guess you ain't got enough to tell me I'm a liar," said Jacob, with a twinkle in his one eye. "When you came to me with that of Tera out for a place as you didn't know of, I thought it was a bit queer. I couldn't make out your game, but I made up my mind to keep an eye on you. That trip you came back here; but two weeks later you skedaddled to London."
 
"That is true," admitted Johnson, quietly. "I went up again to London in connection with some debts I owed."
 
"Oh, rats! You went up about them pearls."
 
"Let us that question for the moment, Captain Jacob. I admit that I was in London two weeks after my visit to you about the of Bithiah. May I ask how you knew?"
 
"Oh, there ain't no harm in telling that," answered the captain, graciously. "I didn't cotton to the idea of the Kanaka disappearing while she was in your house, so I wanted to see your game and spile it in the interests of justice. I dropped a line to Papa Brand, as was hanging out here, and asked him to keep an eye lifted your way. He wired as you were going to London by a certain train----"
 
"Korah Brand! He must have watched me!"
 
"You bet, he just did; and I did ditto t'other end. I saw you come out of Victoria Station and follered you. It was Hatton Garden as you made for, and you into a pop-shop when you thought no one was looking. I just thought to myself, arter the gal disappeared, as you'd be by way of sellin' them pearls, so I waited till you kim out, and in on my own hook. The Sheeny--Abraham is his name, and you know it--was just putting the pearls back in the bag, and I recognized them straight off."
 
"What! the pearls. Impossible!"
 
"Well," drawled Shackel, rather disconcerted, "if I didn't the pearls, I knew the bag was Tera's, 'cause she showed it to me when I brought you to England, and I knew the kind of mark as Buli put on it. Oh, the bag and pearls were Tera's, right enough, but I didn't as you'd put the gal in her little wooden overcoat. No, sir! 'Pears now as you did, seeing as a perlice says she was murdered. If I'd knowed that," cried Jacob, with a show of , "I'd yanked you into quod. I would, by thunder!"
 
Johnson listened to the man without moving a muscle. He looked him calmly in the face.
 
"Captain Shackel," said he, coldly, "allow me to inform you that there is not a word of truth in the statement by means of which you propose to me. I visited London the first time to inquire if you had seen my , who I thought might have gone to you for shelter. You denied that she had been with you, so, believing your statement, I returned to Grimleigh. Two weeks after her disappearance, I was in great trouble about some money I owed. From some unknown person I received my several bills, receipted. They were placed on this very desk one day when I was out visiting. Much astonished, I went to London and saw my , to learn, if possible, who had paid the money. They one and all refused to inform me, as they had promised my not to reveal his name. Failing in this attempt, I returned for the second time to Grimleigh, and since then I have hardly left my home. Tera has been murdered, but I do not know who murdered her. I myself am wholly innocent. I never saw the pearls after the night she disappeared. I was never near Hatton Garden. I know nothing of the pawnshop you mention or of its Jew owner. The name of Moss is unknown to me. In short, Captain Shackel, I deny your ."
 
Jacob, in no wise put about by this denial, his one eye and became vulgarly familiar.
 
"That's right, sonny, you stick to it," said he; "it's your only chance of saving your neck. See here, though, you Johnson," he added, in a more threatening tone, "I hold you in the hollow of my hand. I've got a of sorts as I'm sailing round the Horn in, to do trading business in the Islands. It's taken all my to buy her; now I want money to buy stores and fit her out properly with for the voyage. That money I came here to get from you. Those pearls were worth a mint of coin, and I'm going to have my share--say, five 'undred quid. Pay me that, and I'll tie up my tongue about your killin' the gal and sellin' her pearls. But you refuse me, my son, and I guess you'll be singing in quod this time to-morrow."
 
"There is the door, captain; you can go;" and the minister, pale, but firm, rose to dismiss his visitor.
 
"You won't part?" urged the little man, to his feet.
 
"I won't pay your blackmail, sir. Your attempt to it is, I may remind you, of itself a criminal offence."
 
"What's murder, then?" asked the captain. "Well, I guess I ain't a hard man, and it's true this thing's come on you sudden-like. Me and Finland 'ull give you twelve hours to think about it."
 
"Finland! Is he with you?"
 
"I guess so. First mate. He was coming here to smash you for murdering his sweetheart, but I sent him off to his uncle Carwell, and come myself in his place, being milder-like. Well, what's to be done?"
 
"Nothing, so far as I am concerned. You can go."
 
"Twelve hours, my son," threatened the captain, making for the door. "It's either five hundred pounds to me, or and the for you. Figure it out your own way. So-long;" and the wrinkled embodiment of evil left the room with the utmost . Evidently Captain Jacob was satisfied that the game was in his own hands.
 
Left to himself, Johnson gave himself up to a survey of his position. He was almost in despair. This was not the first disagreeable interview through which he had gone that day; for, before the funeral, Brand had been with him urging him to flight.
 
In his desire to save Johnson and disgrace from Bethgamul, Korah had broken his promise to Slade, and had related the discovery of the stolen curtain cord. A tri-coloured silken rope had been taken from the study; a tri-coloured silken rope had been used to strangle Tera. Were these one and the same? It certainly seemed so. Who could have stolen it? Who could have committed the murder? Johnson was strong in the consciousness of his own , and he was sustained by his belief in the justice of God; yet the evidence against him was so explicit that he could not but see how difficult it would be to himself from the position in which he was placed. He had been near the field the very night on which Tera had been killed there! his debts had been paid by some person whom he could not even name; the cord used to strangle the girl had been taken from his study; and public opinion was dead against him as the actual criminal. The wretched man knew not how best to combat this evil--how to disprove this evidence. He felt that he was in a net, the of which were gradually closing round him. It was better, perhaps, to adopt Brand's suggestion and fly, lest worse should befall.
 
"It is friendly advice," said Johnson to himself, with a ; "yet, dare I accept it? After all, how do I know that Brand is my friend? If he were a true friend he would hardly spy on me on Shackel's behalf. This suggested flight may be but a to make me myself. And the selling of the pearls? How can I show that I did not sell them? I was in London! Shackel swears that he saw me enter Abraham Moss's shop. The murderer must have been disguised as myself in order to throw the on my shoulders. What can I do? Tell all these things to Chard? No; then I stand in danger of arrest, and I can offer no defence. Fly? By doing that I make a tacit acknowledgment of guilt. O God, in Thy mercy i............