body. Mr. Monkton did not immediately
fall, but staggered forward some six or seven paces, discharged his
pistol ineffectually at the count, and dropped to the ground a dead man.
Monsieur Foulon then stated that he tore a leaf from his pocketbook,
wrote on it a brief description of the manner in which Mr. Monkton had
died, and pinned the paper to his clothes; this proceeding having been
rendered necessary by the peculiar nature of the plan organized on the
spot for safely disposing of the dead body. What this plan was, or what
was done with the corpse, did not appear, for at this important point
the narrative abruptly broke off.

A foot-note in the newspaper merely stated the manner in which
the document had been obtained for publication, and repeated the
announcement contained in the editor's introductory remarks, that no
continuation had been found by the persons intrusted with the care of
Monsieur Foulon's papers. I have now given the whole substance of what
I read, and have mentioned all that was then known of Mr. Stephen
Monkton's death.

When I gave the newspaper back to Alfred he was too much agitated to
speak, but he reminded me by a sign that he was anxiously waiting to
hear what I had to say. My position was a very trying and a very painful
one. I could hardly tell what consequences might not follow any want
of caution on my part, and could think at first of no safer plan than
questioning him carefully before I committed myself either one way or
the other.

"Will you excuse me if I ask you a question or two before I give you my
advice?" said I.

He nodded impatiently.

"Yes, yes--any questions you like."

"Were you at any time in the habit of seeing your uncle frequently?"

"I never saw him more than twice in my life--on each occasion when I was
a mere child."

"Then you could have had no very strong personal regard for him?"

"Regard for him! I should have been ashamed to feel any regard for him.
He disgraced us wherever he went."

"May I ask if any family motive is involved in your anxiety to recover
his remains?"

"Family motives may enter into it among others--but why do you ask?"

"Because, having heard that you employ the police to assist your search,
I was anxious to know whether you had stimulated their superiors to
make them do their best in your service by giving some strong personal
reasons at headquarters for the very unusual project which has brought
you here."

"I give no reaso