feel for her the respect due to one of frank and open
nature."

I was about to leave the house, when I saw Thomas descending the stairs
with a letter in his hand.

"Miss Leavenworth's compliments, sir, and she is too fatigued to remain
below this evening."

I moved aside to read the note he handed me, feeling a little
conscience-stricken as I traced the hurried, trembling handwriting
through the following words:

"You ask more than I can give. Matters must be received as they are
without explanation from me. It is the grief of my life to deny you;
but I have no choice. God forgive us all and keep us from despair.

"M."

And below:

"As we cannot meet now without embarrassment, it is better we should
bear our burdens in silence and apart. Mr. Harwell will visit you.
Farewell!"

As I was crossing Thirty-second Street, I heard a quick footstep behind
me, and turning, saw Thomas at my side. "Excuse me, sir," said he, "but
I have something a little particular to say to you. When you asked me
the other night what sort of a person the gentleman was who called
on Miss Eleanore the evening of the murder, I didn't answer you as I
should. The fact is, the detectives had been talking to me about that
very thing, and I felt shy; but, sir, I know you are a friend of the
family, and I want to tell you now that that same gentleman, whoever
he was,--Mr. Robbins, he called himself then,--was at the house again
tonight, sir, and the name he gave me this time to carry to Miss
Leavenworth was Clavering. Yes, sir," he went on, seeing me start; "and,
as I told Molly, he acts queer for a stranger. When he came the other
night, he hesitated a long time before asking for Miss Eleanore, and
when I wanted his name, took out a card and wrote on it the one I told
you of, sir, with a look on his face a little peculiar for a caller;
besides----"

"Well?"

"Mr. Raymond," the butler went on, in a low, excited voice, edging up
very closely to me in the darkness. "There is something I have never
told any living being but Molly, sir, which may be of use to those as
wishes to find out who committed this murder."

"A fact or a suspicion?" I inquired.

"A fact, sir; which I beg your pardon for troubling you with at this
time; but Molly will give me no rest unless I speak of it to you or Mr.
Gryce; her feelings being so worked up on Hannah's account, whom we all
know is innocent, though folks do dare to say as how s