Chapter III

"Why, Paul... it's you!" she cried.

He looked away and did not answer.

"It's quite a surprise," she went on. "Why don't we walk down the street together?"

"I have to wait here," he said.

"But why?"

He knew she would not understand if he told her. So he said:

"I have supper here. I can't lose my place."

"I'm just going home. Come and have supper with me."

He looked at her for a long time, thinking.

"Leave me alone," he said at last.

"Come, Paul... please come."

He pointed at his dirty clothes and said:

"I can't walk through the streets with you like this. Leave me now... I'll come to your place later."

"You promise?"

He nodded. She thought for a moment and then slowly moved away. He did not follow her with his eyes, yet there was new hope in his heart. It began to rain and Paul had to turn up his collar. When he came up to the kitchen he saw that the Silver King had not yet arrived.

"Mr. Oswald is late tonight," he said to the wagon man.

"Not coming till tomorrow," the other answered. "Next!"

Paul felt greatly upset. He didn't even take his bread and soup. He walked off, dragging his feet.

But Lena had not gone home, she was waiting across the street. At the corner of the square she joined him.

"Come, Paul."

She took his arm and led him away. He did not speak a word all the way to Ware Place. When they came she showed him the bathroom and brought him his own clothes. After supper he sat for a while before the fire while Lena was washing up. When she returned to the living-room Paul got to his feet.

"Well... it's time for me to go."

"Where?"

"Back to my hotel."

"And where is that?"

He smiled sadly.

"Under the Arches, if you want to know."

"No," Lena said. "You're not going."

"But I must. Give me my coat."

"You'll sleep here. You can have Mrs. Hanley's room."

She took him to a room where she had already prepared a bed for him.

He stood for a while looking at the bed.

"Really," he said at last, "supper... and a bed."

"Oh, Paul," Lena cried. "Don't try to say any more... just go to bed and rest."

As they stood there, the window of the room suddenly shook with the wind. Paul's eyes filled with tears as he thought of the cold wet night outside. Without saying another word he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

Chapter IV

Next morning the young people had breakfast together and Lena went off to the Bonanza. Paul decided that he must, after all, try and see Mr. Oswald at his house. He was on his way to Porlock Hill when he suddenly met Jack, the waiter at the Royal Oak.

"It’s you," Jack cried in surprise. "I have something for you."

He pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket.

"Louisa Burt asked me to give you this letter about two weeks ago," he said. They talked for a while, then Jack said good-bye, turned and walked down the street. Paul hurried to the nearest shop window, and read the letter.

Dear Mr. Smarty.

You must know that I'm going to be married. So I do not need your attentions any more. Mr. Oswald has arranged everything that me and my husband should go to New Zealand next month like he did for my friend Ed Collins who served here before me. I never believed you and I'm sorry for you.

Yours,

Louisa Burt

He re-read the letter and again noticed the words: Ed Collins here before me... His heart was beating fast. Louisa Burt had served the Oswalds for twelve years and her friend Edward Collins had been a servant in the house before her. Now, how did it happen that these two young people, the most important witnesses in the Mathry case had both stayed with the Oswald family? And Oswald tried to marry off each of them and send them away from England. Then, Рaul could not tell why, he remembered the sound of the voice of the man who had spoken with Albert Prusty before the door of his flat that afternoon, the landlord of Ushaw Terrace.

Twenty minutes later Paul was knocking on the second floor door of 52 Ushaw Terrace. Prusty's voice came through:

"Who is it? I can't see anyone. I'm ill, and I'm just going to bed. Come back tomorrow."

"No, no... I must see you now... I must."

The tobacconist opened the door. He wore only a shirt and trousers " "What do you want?"

"I won't keep you a minute." Paul spoke hurriedly. "I only want to ask you... who is the landlord of this house?"

"Why, it's Mr. Enoch Oswald."

"And the flat upstairs? Does it also belong to him?"

"Of course it does."

"You remember you promised to show me the flat. Well, give me the key."

Prusty went into the kitchen and returned with the key.

"Here!" he cried. "Now leave me in peace."

As Paul left Prusty's flat he began to go up the stairs but in a few moments he stopped. He suddenly thought of a better plan. So he turned and went down.

Soon Paul was in the centre of the city and entered the library. Mark no longer worked there. A young woman served him. She found the book he asked for. It was the book of biographies of the most important men of Wortley. Opening it Paul read the following:

Enoch Oswald, born 13 November 1861. Educated Wortley Grammar School and Nottingham University ... After two years at St. Mary's Hospital, gave up his studies as a medical student. Entered his father's business in Eldon ... collecting rents … took an interest in sports ... especially in cycling ... and for some months ... was an active member of the Grasshoppers' Club ...

He pushed back his chair and, leaving the book open on the table, hurriedly left the room. Ten minutes later he entered Ware Place, ran up the steps to the door of Mrs. Hanley's house. It was Lena who answered his knock.

"Lena," he cried, "I want your help... now, at once."

Without sitting down, he told her his plan. Then he asked her to bring a small box, brown paper and string. He put the paper round the box and made a parcel, tying it up carefully with the string. After that he took an old notebook and filled in the first six lines in pencil with names and addresses. Then he again went over what she was to do.

"You understand? It's quite simple."

"Well, simple or difficult, I'll do it."

"Let's go now. The whole thing won't take half an hour."

They went out together. They walked in silence to the Corn Market. The canteen was open, a long line of men were standing before it. As they came nearer, they saw Oswald had arrived. Then Paul stopped and Lena approached the Silver King. Watching, Paul saw her address the old man.

"Mr. Oswald?"

The old man looked at Lena.

"I was asked to take this to you, sir."

She held the notebook open and handed the pencil to Oswald.

"Sign here, sir, please."

Oswald took the pencil and signed the book.