evoted to the Fairbrother case. In this it was
stated that the authorities hoped for new light on this mystery as soon
as they had located a certain witness, whose connection with the
crime they had just discovered. No more, no less than was contained
in Inspector Dalzell's letter. How could I bear it,--the suspense, the
doubt,--and do my duty to my patient! Happily, I had no choice. I had
been adjudged equal to this business and I must prove myself to be so.
Perhaps my courage would revive after I had had my breakfast;
perhaps then I should be able to fix upon the identity of the new
witness,--something which I found myself incapable of at this moment.

These thoughts were on my mind as I crossed the rooms on my way back
to Miss Grey's bedside. By the time I reached her door I was outwardly
calm, as her first words showed:

"Oh, the cheerful smile! It makes me feel better in spite of myself."

If she could have seen into my heart!

Mr. Grey, who was leaning over the foot of the bed, cast me a quick
glance which was not without its suspicion. Had he detected me playing a
part, or were such doubts as he displayed the product simply of his own
uneasiness? I was not able to decide, and, with this unanswered question
added to the number already troubling me, I was forced to face the day
which, for aught I knew, might be the precursor of many others equally
trying and unsatisfactory.

But help was near. Before noon I received a message from my uncle to the
effect that if I could be spared he would be glad to see me at his home
as near three o'clock as possible. What could he want of me? I could
not guess, and it was with great inner perturbation that, having won Mr.
Grey's permission, I responded to his summons.

I found my uncle awaiting me in a carriage before his own door, and
I took my seat at his side without the least idea of his purpose.
I supposed that he had planned this ride that he might talk to me
unreservedly and without fear of interruption. But I soon saw that he
had some very different object in view, for not only did he start down
town instead of up, but his conversation, such as it was, confined
itself to generalities and studiously avoided the one topic of supreme
interest to us both.

At last, as we turned into Bleecker Street, I let my astonishment and
perplexity appear.

"Where are we bound?" I asked. "It can not be that you are taking me to
see Mr. Durand?"

"No," said he, and said no more.