Don't press me, dearest," he said tenderly. "Trust me that it is best
for you not to know."

"Percy, dear," she said gently, as she laid her hand upon his arm; "you
can trust me. I always knew there must be something very terrible to
make Mr Stratton behave toward poor Myra as he did, and you and I have
been plotting and planning to find it out, in the hope that it would
prove to be a trouble we could bridge over, and bring them together
again. You have discovered it all then at last?"

"Yes."

"Then tell me."

"I cannot--I dare not."

Edie was silent for a few moments, as she sat gazing straight before her
into the dimly lit back drawing room, her eyes suffused with tears, as
she at last said in a whisper:

"You asked me the other day if I would be your wife."

"And you promised me an answer when I knew all," said Guest, cutting the
ground from beneath his feet.

"And now you know, and I'll tell you," she said, hardly above her
breath. "Yes, Percy, some day when we have made poor Myra happy."

"Then it will never be," he said despairingly.

"Let me judge," she whispered. And he told her all.

"But--but I don't quite understand," she faltered; "you think, then--oh,
it is too horrible--you think, then, he had killed poor Mr Brettison,
his friend?"

"Yes," said Guest slowly and thoughtfully. "It must have been that. I
cannot see a doubt."

"Ah!"

They started to their feet at the piteous sigh which came from the back
drawing room, and it was followed by a heavy fall.

Myra had entered in time enough to hear the terrible charge, and for her
life seemed to be at an end.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile Stratton had stood motionless, gazing down into the dark pit
formed by the staircase, with the light of the lamp he held shining full
on his haggard face, made more painful by the smile which contracted the
lower parts of his countenance, till the last echo of his friend's steps
died out, when he turned slowly and walked into his room, closing and
fastening both doors.

Then his whole manner changed.

He rushed to the table, set down the lamp so that the glass shade
rattled and nearly flew out of the holder; then, crossing quickly to a
cabinet, he took out a decanter and glass, poured out a heavy draught of
brandy, and gulped it down.

The glass almost dropped from his hand to the table, and he clasped his
brow, to stand staring before him f