d the widow. "But what could have been its
motive?"

"That I am striving with all my might to establish," I answered. "If I
can only obtain from your daughter the true facts concerning her
adventures on that fatal night last November, then it will materially
assist me towards fixing the guilt upon the person I suspect. In this
I beg your aid, Mrs. Tennison," I said. "I have only just returned
from several weeks abroad, during which I have gained considerable
knowledge which in the end will, I hope, lead me to the solution of
the problem."

I then told her of my journey to Spain and afterwards to Nimes. But I
mentioned nothing concerning either Oswald De Gex or Despujol.

At that moment Gabrielle, unaware of my presence, entered. She was
dressed in a simple grey frock with short sleeves and cut discreetly
low, and looked very sweet. On seeing me she drew back, but next
second she put out her slim white hand in greeting, and with a
delightful smile, exclaimed:

"Why--why, Mr. Garfield! I--I remember you! You called upon me some
weeks ago--did you not?"

"Yes, Miss Tennison, I did," I replied as I sprang from my chair and
bent over her hand. "So you recollect me--eh?"

"I do. They said that you would call upon me," she replied, her
beautiful face suddenly clouding.

"Who told you that?" I asked.

"Doctor Moroni. He warned me that you were my enemy."

I drew a long breath, for I discerned the depth of the plot.

"Not your enemy, Miss Tennison," I assured her. "But your friend--your
friend who is trying his best to solve the problem of your--your
illness."

"Yes, Gabrielle, dear, Mr. Garfield is certainly your friend. I know
that," declared her mother kindly. "Doctor Moroni must have been
mistaken. Why should he have warned you against meeting Mr. Garfield?"

I was silent for a moment, then I said:

"Of course, Mrs. Tennison, you have no previous knowledge of me. You
are taking me entirely at my own estimation."

"When I meet a young man who is open and frank as you are, I trust
him," she said quietly. "You know that woman's intuition seldom errs."

I laughed.

"Well," I answered. "I am striving to solve the mystery of what
occurred on the night of November the seventh--of what occurred to
your daughter, as well as to myself."

Mrs. Tennison endeavoured to obtain from me a description of my
adventure, but I managed to evade her questions.

"I wonder why Doctor Moroni warned Gabrielle against you?" she