ary made no reply, and he said nothing further. Mrs. Fenwick was
with them so quickly that there was no need for a reply,--and then he
was gone. During the whole day the two friends talked of the murder,
and of the Brattles, and the chapel,--which was thoroughly inspected
from the roof to the floor,--but not a word was said about the
loves of Harry Gilmore or Walter Marrable. Gilmore's name was often
mentioned as the whole story was told of Lord Trowbridge's new
quarrel, and of the correspondence with the bishop,--of which Fenwick
had learned the particulars from the bishop's chaplain. And in the
telling of this story Mrs. Fenwick did not scruple to express her
opinion that Harry Gilmore had behaved well, with good spirit, and
like a true friend. "If the Marquis had been anywhere near his own
age I believe he would have horsewhipped him," said the Vicar's wife,
with that partiality for the corporal chastisement of an enemy which
is certainly not uncommon to the feminine mind. This was all very
well, and called for no special remark from Mary, and possibly might
have an effect.

The gentlemen returned late in the evening, and the Squire dressed at
the vicarage. But the great event of the day had to be told before
anyone was allowed to dress. Between four and five o'clock, just as
the magistrates were going to leave the bench, Sam Brattle had walked
into Court.

"And your money is safe?" said his wife.

"Yes, my money is safe; but, I declare, I think more of Sam's truth.
He was there, as it seemed, all of a sudden. The police had learned
nothing of him. He just walked into the court, and we heard his
voice. 'They tell me I'm wanted,' he said; and so he gave himself
up."

"And what was done?" asked his wife.

"It was too late to do anything; so they allowed a remand for another
week, and Sam was walked off to prison."

At dinner time the conversation was still about the murder. It had
been committed after Mary Lowther had left Bullhampton; but she had
heard all the details, and was now as able to be interested about
it as were the others. It was Gilmore's opinion that, instead of
proceeding against Sam, they would put him into the witness-box and
make him tell what he knew about the presence of the other two men.
Fenwick declared that, if they did so, such was Sam's obstinacy that
he would tell nothing. It was his own idea,--as he had explained
both to his wife and to Gilmore,--that Carry Brattle could give more
e