'He was
hinfidel,' he say. 'That was behin' all. He was crooked all roun'. He
rob the widow and horphan?' 'I think he too smart for that,' I speak
quick. 'I suppose it was the drink,' he say. 'He loose his grip.' 'He
was a smart man, an' he would make you all sit up, if he come back,'
I hanswer. 'If he come back!' The man laugh queer at that. 'If he
comeback, there would be hell.' 'How is that?' I say. 'Look across the
street,' he whisper. 'That was his wife.'"

Charley choked back a cry in his throat. Jo had no intention of cutting
his story short. He had an end in view.

"I look across the street. There she is--' Ah, that is a fine woman
to see! I have never seen but one more finer to look at--here in
Chaudiere.' The man say: 'She marry first for money, and break her
heart; now she marry for love. If Beauty Steele come back-eh! sacra!
that would be a mess. But he is at the bottom of the St Lawrence--the
courts say so, and the Church say so--and ghosts don't walk here.' 'But
if that Beauty Steele come back alive, what would happen it?' I speak.
'His wife is marry, blockhead!' he say.

"'But the woman is his,' I hanswer. 'Do you think she would go back to a
thief she never love from the man she love?' he speak back. 'She is not
marry to the other man,' I say, 'if Beauty Steele is...' 'He is dead as
a door,' he swear. 'You see that?' he go on, nodding down the street.
'Well, that is Billy.' 'Who is Billy?' I ask. 'The brother of her,' he
say. 'Charley, he spoil Billy. Billy, he has not been the same since
Charley's death-he is so ashame of Charley. When he get drunk he talk of
nothing else. We all remember that Charley spoil him, and that make us
sorry for him.' 'Excuse me,' I say. 'I think that Billy is a dam smart
man. He is smart as Charley Steele.' 'Charley was the smartes' man in
the country,' he say again. 'I've got his practice now, but this town
will never be the same without him. Thief or no thief, I wish he is
alive here. By the Lord, I'd get drunk with him!' He was all right, that
man," Jo added finally.

Charley's agitation was hidden. His eyes were fixed on Jo intently.
"That was Larry Rockwell. Go on," he said, in a hard metallic voice.

"I see--her, the next night again. It is in the white stone house on the
hill. All the windows are open, an' I can hear her to sing. I not know
that song. It begin, 'Oft in the stilly night'--like that."

Charley stiffened. It was the song Kathleen sang for him the ni