happy lady lately dead at the Hotel Clermont."

"Miss Challoner?"

"Certainly; Miss Challoner."

"I knew the lady. But--" here the speaker's eye took on a look as
questioning as that of his interlocutor--"but in a way so devoid of
all publicity that I cannot but feel surprised that the fact should be
known."

At this, the listening Sweetwater hoped that Dr. Heath would ignore
the suggestion thus conveyed and decline the explanation it apparently
demanded. But the impression made by the gentleman's good looks had been
too strong for this coroner's proverbial caution, and, handing over the
slip of a note which had been found among Miss Challoner's effects by
her father, he quietly asked:

"Do you recognise the signature?"

"Yes, it is mine."

"Then you acknowledge yourself the author of these lines?"

"Most certainly. Have I not said that this is my signature?"

"Do you remember the words of this note, Mr. Brotherson?"

"Hardly. I recollect its tenor, but not the exact words."

"Read them."

"Excuse me, I had rather not. I am aware that they were bitter and
should be the cause of great regret. I was angry when I wrote them."

"That is evident. But the cause of your anger is not so clear, Mr.
Brotherson. Miss Challoner was a woman of lofty character, or such was
the universal opinion of her friends. What could she have done to a
gentleman like yourself to draw forth such a tirade?"

"You ask that?"

"I am obliged to. There is mystery surrounding her death;--the kind of
mystery which demands perfect frankness on the part of all who were near
her on that evening, or whose relations to her were in any way peculiar.
You acknowledge that your friendship was of such a guarded nature that
it surprised you greatly to hear it recognised. Yet you could write her
a letter of this nature. Why?"

"Because--" the word came glibly; but the next one was long in
following. "Because," he repeated, letting the fire of some strong
feeling disturb for a moment his dignified reserve, "I offered myself to
Miss Challoner, and she dismissed me with great disdain."

"Ah! and so you thought a threat was due her?"

"A threat?"

"These words contain a threat, do they not?"

"They may. I was hardly master of myself at the time. I may have
expressed myself in an unfortunate manner."

"Read the words, Mr. Brotherson. I really must insist that you do so."

There was no hesitancy now. Rising, he leaned over the table and read
t