his slippers, or complain
that the lamps had been smoking, or hunt the house down for last week's
paper. Oh, besides, Tom's Tom--and there's an end of it.'

'That's precisely what I think, Mrs Lovat; one is saturated with one's
personality, as it were.'

'You see, that's just it! That's just exactly every woman's husband all
over; he is saturated with his personality. Bravo, Mr Craik!'

'Good Lord,' said Danton softly. 'I don't deny it!'

'But that,' broke in Sheila crisply--'that's just precisely what I asked
you all to come in for. It's because I know now, apart altogether from
the mere evidence, that--that he is Arthur. Mind, I don't say I ever
really doubted. I was only so utterly shocked, I suppose. I positively
put posers to him; but his memory was perfect in spite of the shock
which would have killed a--a more sensitive nature.' She had risen, it
seemed, and was moving with all her splendid impressiveness of silk and
presence across the general line of vision. But the hall was dark and
still; her eyes were dimmed with light. Lawford could survey her there
unmoved.

'Are you there, Ada?' she called discreetly.

'Yes, ma'am,' answered the faint voice from below.

'You have not heard anything--no knock?'

'No, ma'am, no knock.'

'The door is open if you should call.'

'Yes, ma'am.'

'The girl's scared out of her wits,' said Sheila returning to her
audience. 'I've told you all that miserable Ferguson story--a piece of
calm, callous presence of mind I should never have dreamed my husband
capable of. And the curious thing is--at least, it is no longer curious
in the light of the ghastly facts I am only waiting for Mr Bethany
to tell you--from the very first she instinctively detested the very
mention of his name.'

'I believe, you know,' said Mr Craik with some decision, 'that servants
must have the same wonderful instinct as dogs and children; they are
natural, intuitive judges of character.'

'Yes,' said Sheila gravely, 'and it's only through that that I got to
hear of the--the mysterious friend in the little pony-carriage. Ada's
magnificently loyal--I will say that.'

'I don't want to suggest anything, Mrs Lawford,' began Mr Craik rather
hurriedly, 'but wouldn't it perhaps be wiser not to wait for Mr Bethany?
It is not at all unusual for him to be kept a considerable time in the
vestry after service, and to-day is the Feast of St Michael's and all
Angels, you know. Mightn't your husband be--er--com