roven he would act.

Already the terrific force of the purely circumstantial was at work; a
force which has sent innocent men by scores to prison and the scaffold.
To the man who was to be both prosecutor and judge the links seemed to
be joining nicely. Then with the force of a climax, a climax for which
even he was unprepared, Conscience said, "Will you be using the car
Monday?"

"I had meant to. Why?"

"I thought I'd go to Providence for some shopping. However, I can go by
train."

Providence! Monday! The place and day of Stuart Farquaharson's opening
with his comedy in three acts.

Yesterday such a suspicion would have seemed impossibly absurd. To-day
he realized that yesterday he had been a blind fool.

"Do you mind my going with you?" He made the suggestion in a tentative,
almost indifferent fashion. "I have some business with my bank there. I
sha'n't be in your way."

That should give her pause, he thought, craftily pleased with himself.
It should drive her back upon self-betrayal or a plausible objection.
Incidentally it should indicate to her that he suspected nothing.

"I should be glad to have you go," she declared at once. "I want your
opinion on hangings and furniture for the new guest room."

For an instant Tollman was bewildered. Her acquiescence seemed
spontaneous and cordial, and since she was going for a clandestine
meeting with her lover it should be neither. Perhaps, however, this only
showed how swiftly her brain worked in intrigue.

Although Conscience had not, in fact, read the paper and knew nothing
whatever of Stuart Farquaharson's presence in Providence, it must be
confessed that, to a suspicious mind the circumstances built
consistently to that conclusion.

In due time Eben wrote and mailed a brief note to Mr. Stuart
Farquaharson at the Garrick Theater, Providence. It said:

"My Dear Mr. Farquaharson: My wife requests me to invite you to
join us for lunch on Monday at one at the Crown Hotel. We know you
will be extremely busy, but we hope that the principle of Auld Lang
Syne will prevail and that you can spare us an hour."

On Sunday evening after Conscience had gone to her room, Eben Tollman
sat in his study alone, except for his reflections, which were both
numerous and active.

His note should reach the man to whom it was addressed on Monday
morning. What would be the emotions of the recipient? He, of course,
would already have an appointment with th