The Red Bicycle

sitated so pointedly that Purse impatiently assisted

king readily enough. "I was about to say

uicide, when Mrs. Vence saw the assassi

of Wyke, he was in no danger from anyone. Who the man is that Mrs. Vence saw I don't know. But Wy

ocent he would scarcely have fled. His flight on the bicycle pr

sourly. "You are asking me questions which I cannot answer. Evidently, although I did not know i

, after a pause, and remembering how Mrs. Vence had been engaged to hold he

esture, as if brushing aside the whole subject. "

seeing your daughter bearing a title. But, if she loves young C

from what I have told you, sergeant, you

ising. "When you are examined at the inquest

eady done." growled Lemby, sullenly.

given by Mrs. Vence, you did not come d

t statement," said Lemby, eagerly, "and,

t the door, "I thought you beli

an idea," prote

ture, leaving Mr. Lemby to his own thoughts, which were those

ceived but few letters, newspapers, and parcels, which were generally redirected from his town residence. Wyke evidently had made no secret of his stay in Hedgerton, and in no way could Purse find that he was in hiding. The man had come down, so it was supposed, for the sake of the Hedgerton air, and had taken Maranatha on the three months' lease. Therefore, it might be supposed th

n at the time, that his rival in love was killed. Moreover, it appeared that the young man had not spoken about Miss Lemby to his father or mother, and they were quite surprised to hear that he had any intention of marrying. In fact, Mrs. Craver, was indignant when she heard the story told by Mr. Lemby, and said that Edwin would certainly have told her had he been in love. She admitted, as did the Rector, that Edwin knew Wyke, but insisted that he knew him merely as an acquaintance. If he had bee

information that a telegram had arrived from the Waking police-office saying that the bicycle had been found. The constable who had found it would appear in due course to relate how it had been discovered. But, as the sergeant added, there was no

story much in the same words as she had used wh

ongue. She had come down a few days before her master had taken over Maranatha from Pedder, the caretaker, so as to put

Vence, tartly. "He asked me if I could hold my

and why

nything to chatter about, so far as I could see. I did my work, an

Lemby and the man who

r you was right in your lif

expect M

pected, as you might say. But he told me to show him int

second

say, friendly-like: 'Oh, you've come!' or something like that. He took hi

to return later with cake and wine. Afterwards she related what had occ

of quarrelling while y

The kitchen's

be frank. But, curiously enough, no mention was made of the missing letter left by Hall. Either Purse had not told the Co

yke was titled and wealthy, and, his daughter, on these advantages being pointed out to her, was willing enough to do what she was told. The marriage day was duly fixed, and then Sir Hector, for no apparent reason, postponed the same and came down to live at Hedgerton. Lemby stated h

address is Tenby Mansions, Earl's Court, and you can f

er, rather coldly. "You have given your evidence frankly enough. But I ask y

hould have come down at once, as

tell you that he wa

had he said that. I wanted him to marry my daugh

door had suddenly been opened, then a man had dashed out to disappear on the bicycle into the fog. He also said that he had lef

t he knew, which mainly was a repeti

vidence he said that a post-mortem examination had rev

impossible to cure. Do you think. Dr. Quin, that d

s buried up to the hilt in his heart, and had to pierce through a starched shirt-front and a quilted jacket, bot

nk that Sir Hector

te certain th

orley, who had come to the police-office to confess this. Sorley was a carrier, and saw the advertisement about the bicycle in the newspapers.

y was jogging along in his cart from Bethley to Waking, some twenty miles away. When he

ll, the postman?"

ot say how the bicycle came to be in his cart. I

in an open verdict, which they accordingly did. Everyone agreed with this but the buccaneer, who insisted to Ser

t him?" was the sergeant's reply. "An open verdict is sufficient.

Lemby, contemptuously. "You'll