comfortable by the studio fire.

"Not at all. I have come to see you," was the grim response.

"That is an unexpected honor," said Silver uneasily, and his eyes sought
those of Lord Garvington, who was spreading out his hands to the blaze,
looking blue with cold. He caught Silver's inquiring look.

"I couldn't help it," said Garvington crossly. "I must look after
myself."

Silver's smooth, foxy face became livid, and he could scarcely speak.
When he did, it was with a sickly smile. "Whatever are you talking
about, my lord?"

"Oh, you know, d---- you! I did give you that revolver, you know."

"The revolver?" Silver stared. "Yes, why should I deny it? I suppose you
have come to get it back?"

"I have come to get it, Mr. Silver," put in Lambert politely. "Hand it
over to me, if you please."

"If you like. It certainly has your name on the handle," said the
secretary so quietly that the other man was puzzled. Silver did not seem
to be so uncomfortable as he might have been.

"The revolver was one of a pair which I had especially made when I went
to Africa some years ago," explained Lambert elaborately, and determined
to make his listener understand the situation thoroughly. "On my return
I made them a present to my cousin. I understand, Mr. Silver, that Lord
Garvington lent you one--"

"And kept the other," interrupted the man sharply. "That is true. I was
afraid of burglars, since Lord Garvington was always talking about them,
so I asked him to lend me a weapon to defend myself with."

"And you used it to shoot Pine," snapped Garvington, anxious to end his
suspense and get the interview over as speedily as possible.

Silver rose from his seat in an automatic manner, and turned delicately
pale. "Are you mad?" he gasped, looking from one man to the other.

"It's all very well you talking," whimpered Garvington with a shiver;
"but Pine was shot with that revolver I lent you."

"It's a lie!"

"Oh, I knew you'd say that," complained Garvington, shivering again.
"But I warned you that there might be trouble, since you carried that
letter for me, so that it might fall by chance into Pine's hands."

"Augh!" groaned Silver, sinking back into his chair and passing his
tongue over a pair of dry, gray lips. "Hold your tongue, my lord."

"What's the use? He knows," and Garvington jerked his head in the
direction of his cousin. "The game's up, Silver--the game's up!"

"Oh!" Silver's eyes flashed, and he looked like