red why the moat-house had been built on
the damp unwholesome flat lands instead of on the breezy height.

When he descended later, he found Tufnell awaiting him in the hall to
conduct him to the breakfast table. In the breakfast-room Sir Philip,
Miss Heredith, and Vincent Musard were assembled. The baronet greeted
Colwyn with his gentle unfailing courtesy, and Musard shook hands with
him heartily. The fact that Phil had brought him to the moat-house was
in itself sufficient to ensure a gracious reception from Miss Heredith,
but as soon as she saw Colwyn she felt impelled to like him on his own
account. It was not the repose and simplicity of his manners, or his
freedom from the professional airs of ostentatious notoriety which
attracted her, though these things had their weight with a woman like
Miss Heredith, by conveying the comforting assurance that her guest was
at least a gentleman. There was more than that. She was immediately
conscious of that charm of personality which drew the liking of most
people who came in contact with Colwyn. In the strong clear-cut face of
the great criminologist, there was the abiding quality of sympathy with
the sufferings which spring from human passions and the tragedy of life.
But, if his serenity of expression suggested that he had not allowed his
own disillusionment with life to embitter his outlook or narrow his
vision, his glance also suggested a clear penetration of human motives
which it would be unwise to try to blind. Miss Heredith instinctively
realized that Colwyn was one of those rare human beings who are to be
both feared and trusted.

"You will not see my nephew until later," she explained to him as they
sat down to breakfast. "He is far from strong yet, and he has had so
little sleep since his illness that I am always glad when he is able to
rest quietly. I looked in his room a few minutes ago and he was sleeping
soundly, so I darkened the room and left him to sleep on."

Colwyn expressed his sympathy. His quick intelligence, gauging his new
surroundings and the members of the household, had instantly divined the
sterling qualities, the oddities, and class prejudices which made up the
strong individuality of the mistress of the moat-house. He saw, for all
her dignified front, that she was suffering from a shock which had
shaken her to her inmost being, and he respected her for bearing herself
so bravely under it.

The breakfast progressed in the leisurely way of the