with a gravity that did not
ease her mind:

"I 'm afraid not, Bell--not for some minutes. Mr. Swift and I have to
to discuss Mr. Page's death."

Instantly her countenance reflected a deep concern.

"It is true, then, is it, that your uncle is dead?" she asked in a
hushed voice.

His uncle! For the second time that morning I was staggered. Felix
Page's nephew and Alfred Fluette's daughter sweethearts! The two men
themselves bitter enemies! One lying cold in death--murdered! Is it
any wonder that I was stricken speechless?

"Don't look so astonished, Swift," Maillot was saying. "That is only a
part of what I have to tell."

"But--Felix Page your uncle!" I marvelled, as soon as I recovered my
breath. "Look here, Maillot, it's not often that I 'm so
thunderstruck; why have n't you told me this?"

"It's true," he said slowly; "he was my mother's brother. Neither of
us was particularly proud of the connection--not enough to brag of it.
I was meaning to tell you, though, Swift; it is an essential part of my
story."

He wheeled a chair up to one side of the table for Miss Fluette, and I
made haste to perform a like service for Miss Genevieve Cooper; an act
which she recognized with a slight smile and one of her friendly looks.

"Perhaps you and Genevieve had better get out of your wraps," the young
man suggested to Miss Fluette, "because I want you to hear all I have
to say to Mr. Swift; it will take some time."

She was now genuinely alarmed, and the handsome hazel eyes searched his
face with an apprehension and dread that made her love for him only too
apparent. Most young fellows, I hazard, would court any peril for such
a look from a girl as beautiful as Miss Belle Fluette.

And the blue eyes, too, mirrored anxiety; they turned to me in a quick,
questioning glance. I tried to disregard them--to ignore the presence
of these two pretty girls--and confine myself strictly to what Maillot
had to relate. It was not easy to do, since Miss Fluette's attitude
toward me had become not only openly accusatory, but more than a little
scornful; and I feared, moreover, that I should shortly lose the
support of Miss Cooper's sympathetic interest.

First of all, though, both young ladies were anxious for an account of
the tragedy--a task of which I relieved Maillot by relating briefly the
details as I understood them, but, of course, adding no comment that
might be construed as an expression of my opinion as to w