u,
and not from me. I was not charging Chermside with murder. The bare idea
is ridiculous. I like the boy, and he brought me the best introductions
from India, though personally he has not been communicative about his
private affairs. I know this much, however--that he had business with
Levison, as he admitted at the inquest, which he does not want to be
noised abroad and mouthed over by the wiseacres of Ottermouth. I
surmise that he was to meet Levison on the marsh that night to discuss
that business, and I therefore deemed it advisable in his interest to
suppress all publicity about the intended meeting."

"You are inferring that the business, as you call it, was
discreditable?" said Violet, mystified, and only half mollified.

"Not in the very least," rejoined Nugent glibly. "I do not know what the
transaction was, but it is impossible to associate anything
discreditable with Chermside. If I might make a suggestion it would be
that you should yourself ask Chermside for enlightenment."

"Thank you, I shall certainly inform him of what has happened," said
Violet coldly. "But it must rest with him whether he offers an
explanation of his relations with Levison. I am content to trust the man
who is to be my husband. In the meanwhile, Mr. Nugent, it is but fair
that you should know that I have advised my maid to lose no further time
in communicating with the police. It will be the shortest and most
satisfactory way of getting this absurdity wiped out once for all."

Nugent bowed and stood looking after the graceful figure of the girl as
she sailed away from him across the room. His long moustache hid the
wicked curl at the corner of his mouth. "Ah, my lady," he murmured under
his breath, "you will find that it is one thing to tender advice and
quite another to get it acted on. The fair and flighty Louise is
receiving her orders from your humble servant at present, and they will
certainly not include an injunction to call at the police-station. But
that bogey has been effectually set up, I think."

Leslie Chermside had been covertly watching from afar Violet's animated
interview with Nugent, and seeing her coming towards him he hastened to
meet her. That evening he grudged every moment not spent in her society,
for on the morrow he would assuredly see her for the last time. Unless
some miracle intervened there would be nothing for it, if he was to
avoid arrest for murder and its consequent exposure, but to assent to
Nu