ut, sir----"

"Pass the paper. Utter another word and I refuse to accept Mrs. Smith's
brother as your _locum tenens_."

Smith was silenced by the last terrible epithet. Yet he was so
manifestly nervous that Brett resolved o enlighten him before plunging
into the day's news.

"For the last time, Smith," he said, "I will explain to you why it is
hopeless for you to think of concealing tradesmen's commissions from
me."

The shot went home, but the enemy was acquainted with this method of
attack, and did not wince.

"You knew that Lord Northallerton had recently invited me to his October
pheasant-shooting. During the last few days a youth, who grotesquely
reproduces Mrs. Smith's most prominent features, has mysteriously
tenanted the kitchen, ill-cleaned my boots, and bungled over the studs
in my shirts. This morning a letter came with the crest and the
Northallerton postmark. Really, Smith, considering that you have now
breathed the same air as myself for eight long years, I did not expect
to be called on for an explanation. Besides, you have destroyed a
masterpiece."

"Sir----" began Smith.

"Oh, I understand; there is nothing broken but your reputation. Don't
you see that the mere placing of the newspaper at a distance, so that
you might have a chance to speak before I opened it, was a subtle
stroke, worthy of Lecocq. Yet you demand feeble words. What a pity!
Know, Smith, that true genius is dumb. Speech may be silvern, but
silence is surely golden."

The barrister solemnly unfolded the paper, and Smith faded from the
room. On a page usually devoted to important announcements, the
following paragraphs stood forth in the boldness of leaded type:--

"MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE IN THE WEST END.

"An affair of some magnitude--perhaps a remarkable crime--has
taken place in an Albert Gate mansion.

"Owing to the reticence of the authorities, it is at present
impossible to arrive at a definite conclusion as to the nature
or extent of the incident, but it is quite certain that public
interest will be much excited when details are forthcoming.
All sorts of rumours attain credence in the locality, the murder
of several prominent persons being not the least persistent of
these. Without, however, giving currency to idle speculation,
several authentic statements may be grouped into a connected form.

"Four weeks ago a party of Turkish gentlemen of high rank in