of which
there was a tolerable amount just then, on account of Lord Hartledon's
unfortunate death. Gorton was set upon another job or two when he
returned; and one of those he contrived to mismanage so woefully, that
I would give him no more to do. It struck me that he must drink, or else
was accessible to a bribe."

Mr. Carr nodded his head, thinking the latter more than probable. His
fingers were playing with a newspaper which happened to lie on the
clerk's desk; and he put the next question with a very well-assumed air
of carelessness, as if it were but the passing thought of the moment.

"Did he ever talk about Mr. Elster?"

"Never but once. He came to my house one evening to tell me he had
discovered the hiding-place of a gentleman we were looking for. I was
taking my solitary glass of gin and water after supper, the only
stimulant I ever touch--and that by the doctor's orders--and I could not
do less than ask him to help himself. You see, sir, we did not look upon
him as a common sheriff's man: and he helped himself pretty freely. That
made him talkative. I fancy his head cannot stand much; and he began
rambling upon recent affairs at Calne; he had not been back above a week
then--"

"And he spoke of Mr. Elster?"

"He spoke a good deal of him as the new Lord Hartledon, all in a rambling
sort of way. He hinted that it might be in his power to bring home to him
some great crime."

"The man must have been drunk indeed!" remarked Mr. Carr, with the most
perfect assumption of indifference; a very contrast to the fear that shot
through his heart. "What crime, pray? I hope he particularized it."

"What he seemed to hint at was some unfair play in connection with his
brother's death," said the old clerk, lowering his voice. "'A man at his
wits' end for money would do many queer things,' he remarked."

Mr. Carr's eyes flashed. "What a dangerous fool he must be! You surely
did not listen to him!"

"I, sir! I stopped him pretty quickly, and bade him sew up his mouth
until he came to his sober senses again. Oh, they make great simpletons
of themselves, some of these young fellows, when they get a little drink
into them."

"They do," said the barrister. "Did he ever allude to the matter again?"

"Never; and when I saw him the next day, he seemed ashamed of himself,
and asked if he had not been talking a lot of nonsense. About a fortnight
after that we parted, and I have never seen him since."

"And you really do