"A Mrs. Gaukrodger wishes to see you on very particular business," he
murmured. "She's been waiting some little time--something, she says,
about some papers she has just found--belonging to the late Mr. John
Mallathorpe."
Collingwood, who was standing close to Nesta, caught all the butler
said.
"Gaukrodger!" he exclaimed, with a quick glance at Eldrick. "That was
the name of the manager--a witness. See the woman at once," he whispered
to Nesta.
"Bring Mrs. Gaukrodger in, Dickenson," said Nesta. "Stay--I'll come with
you, and bring her in myself."
She returned a moment later with a slightly built, rather careworn woman
dressed in deep mourning--the woman in black whom they had seen crossing
the park--who looked nervously round her as she entered.
"What is it you have for me, Mrs. Gaukrodger?" asked Nesta. "Papers
belonging to the late Mr. John Mallathorpe? How--where did you get
them?"
Mrs. Gaukrodger drew a large envelope from under her cloak. "This,
miss," she answered. "One paper--I only found it this morning. In this
way," she went on, addressing herself to Nesta. "When my husband was
killed, along with Mr. John Mallathorpe, they, of course, brought home
the clothes he was wearing. There were a lot of papers in the pockets of
the coat--two pockets full of them. And I hadn't heart or courage to
look at them at that time, miss!--I couldn't, and I locked them up in a
box.
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