So they did in repetition day after day through the remainder of the fifth month, and all the sixth.
There was diligent scouring of the dread city on the hill by lepers to whom the rewards offered were mighty incentives, for they were only dead in law.

Over and over again the gaping tomb down by the well was invaded, and its tenants subjected to inquiry; but they kept their secret fast.

The result was failure.

And now, the morning of the first day of the seventh month, the extent of the additional information gained was that not long before two leprous women had been stoned from the Fish Gate by the authorities.

A little pressing of the clew, together with some shrewd comparison of dates, led to the sad assurance that the sufferers were the Hurs, and left the old questions darker than ever.