suppose! And--I don't propose to say any more."

"Neither do I," said Bryce. "I only came to tell you."

And therewith, having successfully done all that he wanted to do, he
walked out of the room and the house, and Ransford, standing in the
window, his hands thrust in his pockets, watched him go away across the
Close.

"Guardian!" said Mary softly.

Ransford turned sharply.

"Wouldn't it be best," she continued, speaking nervously, "if--if you do
know anything about that unfortunate man--if you told it? Why have this
suspicion fastening itself on you? You!"

Ransford made an effort to calm himself. He was furiously angry--angry
with Bryce, angry with Mitchington, angry with the cloud of foolishness
and stupidity that seemed to be gathering.

"Why should I--supposing that I do know something, which I don't
admit--why should I allow myself to be coerced and frightened by these
fools?" he asked. "No man can prevent suspicion falling on him--it's my
bad luck in this instance. Why should I rush to the police-station and
say, 'Here--I'll blurt out all I know--everything!' Why?"

"Wouldn't that be better than knowing that people are saying things?"
she asked.

"As to that," replied Ransford, "you can't prevent people saying
things--especially in a town like this. If it hadn't been for the
unfortunate fact that Braden came to the surgery door, nothing would
have been said. But what of that?--I have known hundreds of men in my
time--aye, and forgotten them! No!--I am not going to fall a victim
to this device--it all springs out of curiosity. As to this last
affair--it's all nonsense!"

"But--if the man was really poisoned?" suggested Mary.

"Let the police find the poisoner!" said Ransford, with a grim smile.
"That's their job."

Mary said nothing for a moment, and Ransford moved restlessly about the
room.

"I don't trust that fellow Bryce," he said suddenly. "He's up to
something. I don't forget what he said when I bundled him out that
morning."

"What?" she asked.

"That he would be a bad enemy," answered Ransford. "He's posing now as a
friend--but a man's never to be so much suspected as when he comes
doing what you may call unnecessary acts of friendship. I'd rather that
anybody was mixed up in my affairs--your affairs--than Pemberton Bryce!"

"So would I!" she said. "But--"

She paused there a moment and then looked appealingly at Ransford.

"I do wish you'd tell me--what you promised to tell me," s