-be; I only concluded that he was not one to show his
feelings in public.

However, I couldn't help feeling that I had learned which of the two was
more anxious for the engagement to continue.

"In what way was your uncle more definite in his threat last night, than
he had been heretofore?" the coroner continued.

Miss Lloyd gave a little gasp, as if the question she had been dreading
had come at last. She looked at the inexorable face of the butler, she
looked at Mr. Randolph, and then flashed a half-timid glance at Hall, as
she answered,

"He said that unless I promised to give up Mr. Hall, he would go last
night to Mr. Randolph's and have a new will drawn up."

"Did he do so?" exclaimed Gregory Hall, an expression almost of fear
appearing on his commonplace face.

Miss Lloyd looked at him, and seemed startled. Apparently his sudden
question had surprised her.

Mr. Monroe paid no attention to Mr. Hall's remark, but said to Miss
Lloyd, "He had made such threats before, had he not?"

"Yes, but not with the same determination. He told me in so many words,
I must choose between Mr. Hall or the inheritance of his fortune."

"And your answer to this?"

"I made no direct answer. I had told him many times that I had no
intention of breaking my engagement, whatever course he might choose to
pursue."

Mr. Orville was clearly delighted with the turn things were taking.
He already scented a sensation, and he scribbled industriously in his
rapidly filling note-book.

This habit of his disgusted me, for surely the jurors on this
preliminary inquest could come to their conclusions without a detailed
account of all these conversations.

I also resented the looks of admiration which Mr. Orville cast at the
beautiful girl. It seemed to me that with the exception of Mr. Hamilton
and Mr. Porter, who were family friends, the jurors should have
maintained a formal and impersonal attitude.

Mr. Hamilton spoke directly to Miss Lloyd on the subject.

"I am greatly surprised," he said, "that Mr. Crawford should take such
a stand. He has often spoken to me of you as his heiress, and to my
knowledge, your engagement to Mr. Hall is not of immediately recent
date."

"No," said Miss Lloyd, "but it is only recently that my uncle expressed
his disapprobation so strongly; and last night at dinner was the first
time he positively stated his intention in regard to his will."

At this Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Porter conversed together i