for the coroners inquest, which is to assemble
immediately."

"Had Rutledge any political enemies? Is it supposed that the event was
in any way connected with party?"

"That could scarcely be," said Fagan. "He was one who gave himself
little concern about state affairs,--an easy fop that fluttered about
the Court, caring for little above the pleasures of his valueless
existence!"

"For such men you have few sympathies, Fagan!"

"None, sir, not one. Their history is ever the same,--a life of debauch,
a death of violence!"

"This is to speak hardly, Fagan," said my father, mildly. "Men like poor
Rutledge have their good qualities, though they be not such as you and I
set store by. I never thought so myself, but others, indeed, deemed him
a most amusing companion, and with more than an ordinary share of wit
and pleasantry."

"The wit and pleasantry were both exerted to make his friends
ridiculous, sir," said Fagan, severely. "He was a man that lived upon a
reputation for smartness, gained at the expense of every good feeling."

"I'll wager a trifle, Tony," said my father, laughing, "that he died
deep in your books. Come, be frank, and say how much this unhappy affair
will cost you."

"Not so dearly as it may you, sir," whispered Fagan in my father's ear;
and the words nearly overcame him.

"How so?--what do you mean?" muttered my father, in a broken, faltering
voice.

"Come this way for a moment, Mr. Carew," said the other, aloud, "and
I'll show you my snuggery, where I live, apart from all the world."

My father followed him into a small chamber, where Fagan at once closed
the door and locked it, and then, approaching him, pulled forth from
beneath his loose cuff a lace ruffle stained and clotted with blood.

"It is fortunate for you, Mr. Carew," said he, "that Raper is so
unobservant; any other than he would have seen this, and this;" and
as he spoke the last words, he pointed to a small portion of a bloody
handkerchief which projected outside the shirt-frill.

So overwhelmed was my father by these evidences that he sank powerless
into a chair, without strength to speak.

"How was it?--how did it occur?" asked Fagan, sitting down in front of
him, and placing one hand familiarly on my father's knee. Simple as the
action was, it was a liberty that he had never dared before to take with
my father, who actually shuddered at the touch, as though it had been a
pollution.

"Unpremeditated, of course, I concl