ctor at the door; and I was present at her death."

Even Mr. Melton's carefully-trained composure was not proof against the
revelation that now opened before him. He burst out with an exclamation
of astonishment, like an ordinary man.

"Good heavens, what does this mean!"

Amelius took it as a question addressed to himself. "I'm sure I don't
know," he said quietly.

Mr. Melton, misunderstanding Amelius on his side, interpreted those
innocent words as an outbreak of vulgar interruption. "Pardon me,"
he said coldly. "I was about to explain myself. You will presently
understand my surprise. After seeing the evening paper, I went at once
to make inquiries at the address mentioned. In Mr. Farnaby's absence, I
felt bound to do this as his old friend. I saw the landlady, and, with
her assistance, the doctor also. Both these persons spoke of a gentleman
who had called that morning, accompanied by a young lady; and who had
insisted on taking the young lady upstairs with him. Until you mentioned
just now that you were present at the death, I had no suspicion that you
were 'the gentleman'. Surprise on my part was, I think, only natural.
I could hardly be expected to know that you were in Mrs. Farnaby's
confidence about the place of her retreat. And with regard to the young
lady, I am still quite at a loss to understand--"

"If you understand that the people at the house told you the truth, so
far as I am concerned," Amelius interposed, "I hope that will be enough.
With regard to the young lady, I must beg you to excuse me for speaking
plainly. I have nothing to say about her, to you or to anybody."

Mr. Melton rose with the utmost dignity and the fullest possession of
his vocal resources.

"Permit me to assure you," he said, with frigidly fluent politeness,
"that I have no wish to force myself into your confidence. One remark
I will venture to make. It is easy enough, no doubt, to keep your own
secrets, when you are speaking to _me._ You will find some difficulty,
I fear, in pursuing the same course, when you are called upon to
give evidence before the coroner. I presume you know that you will be
summoned as a witness at the inquest?"

"I left my name and address with the doctor for that purpose," Amelius
rejoined as composedly as ever; "and I am ready to bear witness to what
I saw at poor Mrs. Farnaby's bedside. But if all the coroners in England
questioned me about anything else, I should say to them just what I have
sa