erly attentions, Esther grows still more pensive. Many surprises
are planned for her diversion. Esther tries hard to be pleased, but it
is apparent that her thoughts are elsewhere.

Servants patrol the Northfield mansion grounds. There are daily and
nightly watches along the shores of the lake. London communications
report no changes in Lanier habits. Pierre seldom leaves that cellar
room. Paul keeps up his night tableaus on the Thames.

To some vigorous suggestions of Charles, Sir Donald replies: "It is not
prudent to hasten any crisis. Immature exposure would be unwise. None of
the circumstances of this strange infatuation are legally conclusive of
Lanier guilt. Without more direct proofs, such cogent evidence would not
be even admissible.

"How establish the 'corpus delicti'? Granted that either Oswald or Alice
had been murdered, Paul's significant craze is legally irrelevant. Other
bodies may have found quietus in Thames depths.

"The facts in possession of London bureau are incompetent to establish
guilty connivance of either Lanier in any crime except those assaults on
the Dodges in Calcutta.

"Though morally certain that these were prompted through fear of Dodge
revelations, yet missing links render Lanier disguises, with suggestive
craft and crazes, judicially meaningless.

"Aided by proof of either death and by sworn evidence of William Dodge,
all irrelevant, circumstantial happenings would become powerfully
coherent. I am sure of both, but can prove neither. I would stint
neither labor nor cost to procure competent evidence of Alice Webster's
death at the hands of Paul Lanier. Without other justification than yet
afforded, I may not betray the Dodge confidence. No motive shall prompt
disclosures as to Oswald Langdon.

"However, there need be no present qualms about concealment in the Dodge
matter. Upon trial of either Lanier for murder of Alice Webster, neither
Esther nor I would be heard to testify about the Dodge confession. This
is inadmissible hearsay. In an action against these three villains
growing out of that vile conspiracy to coerce this unhappy girl into an
obnoxious marriage, the Paris hospital confession might be admissible,
but such reckoning now would be purposeless.

"The only way is to continue present shadowings and defensive
precautions, while awaiting some decisive clews to missing links in this
elusive chain."

Sir Donald's conscience is not clear as to this waiting game. The ris