distant,--two brothers, tradesmen of small means but respectable
character. He at first refused to say at what seaport he landed, in what
ship he sailed. I suspect that he has now told a falsehood as to these
matters. I sent my clerk to Southampton, for it is there he said that
he was put on shore; we shall see: the man himself is detained in close
custody. I hear that his manner is strange and excitable; but that he
preserves silence as much as possible. It is generally believed that
he is a bad character, perhaps a returned convict, and that this is the
true reason why he so long delayed giving evidence, and has been since
so reluctant to account for himself. But even if his testimony should
be impugned, should break down, still we should have to account for the
fact that the casket and the case-knife were found in your bureau; for,
granting that a person could, in your absence, have entered your study
and placed the articles in your bureau, it is clear that such a person
must have been well acquainted with your house, and this stranger to
L---- could not have possessed that knowledge."

"Of course not. Mr. Margrave did possess it!"

"Mr. Margrave again! oh, sir!"

I arose and moved away with an impatient gesture. I could not trust
myself to speak. That night I did not sleep; I watched impatiently,
gazing on the opposite wall for the gleam of the Scin-Laeca. But the
night passed away, and the spectre did not appear.

CHAPTER XLI.

The lawyer came the next day, and with something like a smile on his
lips. He brought me a few lines in pencil from Mrs. Ashleigh; they were
kindly expressed, bade me be of good cheer; "she never for a moment
believed in my guilt; Lilian bore up wonderfully under so terrible a
trial; it was an unspeakable comfort to both to receive the visits of a
friend so attached to me, and so confident of a triumphant refutation of
the hideous calumny under which I now suffered as Mr. Margrave!"

The lawyer had seen Margrave again,--seen him in that house. Margrave
seemed almost domiciled there!

I remained sullen and taciturn during this visit. I longed again for the
night. Night came. I heard the distant clock strike twelve, when again
the icy wind passed through my hair, and against the wall stood the
luminous Shadow.

"Have you considered?" whispered the voice, still as from afar. "I
repeat it,--I alone can save you."

"Is it among the conditions which you ask, in return, that I shall