about the woman he wants,
her family, her antecedents--and all that. Now, pretty nearly everybody
in Wrychester who knows them, knows that there's a mystery about Dr.
Ransford and his two wards--it's been talked of, no end, amongst the old
dowagers and gossips of the Close, particularly--you know what they are!
Miss Bewery herself, and her brother, young Dick, in a lesser degree,
know there's a mystery. And if there's one man in the world who knows
the secret, it's Ransford. And, up to now, Ransford won't tell--he
won't even tell Miss Bewery. I know that she's asked him--he keeps up an
obstinate silence. And so--I determined to find things out for myself."

"Aye--and when did you start on that little game, now, doctor?" asked
Mitchington. "Was it before, or since, this affair developed?"

"In a really serious way--since," replied Bryce. "What happened on the
day of Braden's death made me go thoroughly into the whole matter. Now,
what did happen? I'll tell you frankly, now, Mitchington, that when we
talked once before about this affair, I didn't tell you all I might
have told. I'd my reasons for reticence. But now I'll give you full
particulars of what happened that morning within my knowledge--pay
attention, both of you, and you'll see how one thing fits into another.
That morning, about half-past nine, Ransford left his surgery and went
across the Close. Not long after he'd gone, this man Braden came to the
door, and asked me if Dr. Ransford was in? I said he wasn't--he'd just
gone out, and I showed the man in which direction. He said he'd once
known a Dr. Ransford, and went away. A little later, I followed. Near
the entrance of Paradise, I saw Ransford leaving the west porch of the
Cathedral. He was undeniably in a state of agitation--pale, nervous. He
didn't see me. I went on and met Varner, who told me of the accident.
I went with him to the foot of St. Wrytha's Stair and found the man who
had recently called at the surgery. He died just as I reached him.
I sent for you. When you came, I went back to the surgery--I found
Ransford there in a state of most unusual agitation--he looked like a
man who has had a terrible shock. So much for these events. Put them
together."

Bryce paused awhile, as if marshalling his facts.

"Now, after that," he continued presently, "I began to investigate
matters myself--for my own satisfaction. And very soon I found out
certain things--which I'll summarize, briefly, because some of