ossibly discover, if he looked long enough,
something that would reveal the truth; had gazed awe-struck at the
spot on which the body had been found, and had taken occasion to
remark to himself that the house was a good deal out of order. The
Marquis was a man nearer seventy than sixty, but very hale, and with
few signs of age. He was short and plump, with hardly any beard on
his face, and short grey hair, of which nothing could be seen when he
wore his hat. His countenance would not have been bad, had not the
weight of his marquisate always been there; nor would his heart have
been bad, had it not been similarly burdened. But he was a silly,
weak, ignorant man, whose own capacity would hardly have procured
bread for him in any trade or profession, had bread not been so
adequately provided for him by his fathers before him.

"Mr. Gilmore said he would be here at twelve, Packer?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And it's past twelve now?"

"One minute, my lord."

Then the peer looked again at poor old Trumbull's books.

"I shall not wait, Packer."

"No, my lord."

"You had better tell them to put the horses to."

"Yes, my lord."

But just as Packer went out into the passage for the sake of giving
the order he met Mr. Gilmore, and ushered him into the room.

"Ha! Mr. Gilmore; yes, I am very glad to see you, Mr. Gilmore;" and
the Marquis came forward to shake hands with his visitor. "I thought
it better that you and I should meet about this sad affair in the
parish;--a very sad affair, indeed."

"It certainly is, Lord Trowbridge; and the mystery makes it more so."

"I suppose there is no real mystery, Mr. Gilmore? I suppose there can
be no doubt that that unfortunate young man did,--did,--did bear a
hand in it at least?"

"I think that there is very much doubt, my lord."

"Do you, indeed? I think there is none,--not the least. And all the
police force are of the same opinion. I have considerable experiences
of my own in these matters; but I should not venture, perhaps, to
express my opinion so confidently, if I were not backed by the
police. You are aware, Mr. Gilmore, that the police are--very--seldom
wrong?"

"I should be tempted to say that they are very seldom right--except
when the circumstances are all under their noses."

"I must say I differ from you entirely, Mr. Gilmore. Now, in this
case--" The Marquis was here interrupted by a knock at the door, and,
before the summons could be answered, the parson ent