listening without interruption. The bull-dog expression
on his face never changed. When Gedge had come to the end, he said:

"Will you again tell me your object in coming to me with this
disgusting story?"

Gedge lifted his bushy eyebrows. "Don't you believe it even now?"

"Not a word of it," replied Sir Anthony.

"I ought to remind you of another point." said Gedge. "Was Major Boyce
ever seen in Wellingsford after that night? No. He went off by the
first train the next morning. Went abroad and stayed there till the
outbreak of war."

"I happen to know he had made arrangements to start for Norway that
morning," said Sir Anthony. "He had called here a day or two before to
say good-bye."

"Did he write you any letter of condolence?" Gedge asked sneeringly.

I saw a sudden spasm pass over Sir Anthony's features. But he said in
the same tone as before:

"I am not going to answer insolent questions."

Gedge turned to me with the air of a man giving up argument with a
child.

"What do you think of it, Major Meredyth?"

What could I say? I had kept a grim iron face all through the
proceedings. I could only reply:

"I agree entirely with Sir Anthony."

Gedge rose and thrust his hand into his jacket pocket. "You gentlemen
are hard to convince. If you want proof positive, just read that." And
he held a letter out to Sir Anthony.

Sir Anthony glared at him and abruptly plucked the letter out of his
hand; for the fraction of a second he stood irresolute; then he threw
it behind him into the blazing fire.

"Do you think I'm going to soil my mind with your dirty forgeries?"

Gedge laughed. "You think you've queered my pitch, I suppose. You
haven't. I've heaps more incriminating letters. That was only a sample."

"Publish one of them at your peril," said I.

"Pray, Mister Major Meredyth," said he, "what is to prevent me?"

"Penal servitude for malicious slander."

"I should win my case."

"In that event they would get you, on your own showing, for being an
accessory after the fact of murder, and for blackmail."

"Suppose I risk it?"

"You won't," said I.

Sir Anthony turned to the bell-push by the side of the mantelpiece.

"What's the good of talking to this double-dyed scoundrel?" He pointed
to the door. "You infamous liar, get out. And if I ever catch you
prowling round this house, I'll set the dogs on you."

Gedge marched to the door and turned on the threshold and shook his
fist.

"You'll repent