absolutely so.'

"'But not on his?' insisted the coroner.

"'I think he felt naturally annoyed that he had been so ill-advised by
his solicitors.'

"'And you made no attempt later on in the day to adjust any ill-feeling
that may have existed between you and him?' asked the coroner, marking
with strange, earnest emphasis every word he uttered.

"'If you mean did I go and see my brother again that day--no, I did
not.'

"'And your lordship can give us no further information which might
throw some light upon the mystery which surrounds the Hon. Robert de
Genneville's death?' still persisted the coroner.

"'I am sorry to say I cannot,' replied the Earl of Brockelsby with firm
decision.

"The coroner still looked puzzled and thoughtful. It seemed at first as
if he wished to press his point further; every one felt that some deep
import had lain behind his examination of the witness, and all were on
tenter-hooks as to what the next evidence might bring forth. The Earl of
Brockelsby had waited a minute or two, then, at a sign from the coroner,
had left the witness-box in order to have a talk with his solicitor.

"At first he paid no attention to the depositions of the cashier and
hall porter of the Castle Hotel, but gradually it seemed to strike him
that curious statements were being made by these witnesses, and a frown
of anxious wonder settled between his brows, whilst his young face lost
some of its florid hue.

"Mr. Tremlett, the cashier at the hotel, had been holding the attention
of the court. He stated that the Hon. Robert Ingram de Genneville had
arrived at the hotel at eight o'clock on the morning of the 13th; he had
the room which he usually occupied when he came to the 'Castle,' namely,
No. 21, and he went up to it immediately on his arrival, ordering some
breakfast to be brought up to him.

"At eleven o'clock the Earl of Brockelsby called to see his brother and
remained with him until about twelve. In the afternoon deceased went
out, and returned for his dinner at seven o'clock in company with a
gentleman whom the cashier knew well by sight, Mr. Timothy Beddingfield,
the lawyer, of Paradise Street. The gentlemen had their dinner
downstairs, and after that they went up to the Hon. Mr. de Genneville's
room for coffee and cigars.

"'I could not say at what time Mr. Beddingfield left,' continued the
cashier, 'but I rather fancy I saw him in the hall at about 9.15 p.m. He
was wearing an Inverness cape over h