that Mealyus had brought it
with him, and concealed it in preparation for this occasion. If the
police could succeed in tracing the bludgeon into his hands, or in
proving that he had purchased any such instrument, then,--so it was
thought,--there would be evidence to justify a police magistrate in
sending Mr. Emilius to occupy the place so lately and so long held
by poor Phineas Finn. But till that had been done, there could be
nothing to connect the preacher with the murder. All who had heard
the circumstances of the case were convinced that Mr. Bonteen had
been murdered by the weapon lately discovered, and not by that which
Phineas had carried in his pocket,--but no one could adduce proof
that it was so. This second bludgeon would no doubt help to remove
the difficulty in regard to Phineas, but would not give atonement to
the shade of Mr. Bonteen.

Mealyus was confronted with the weapon in the presence of Major
Mackintosh, and was told its story;--how it was found in the
nobleman's garden by the little boy. At the first moment, with
instant readiness, he took the thing in his hand, and looked at it
with feigned curiosity. He must have studied his conduct so as to
have it ready for such an occasion, thinking that it might some
day occur. But with all his presence of mind he could not keep the
tell-tale blood from mounting.

"You don't know anything about it, Mr. Mealyus?" said one of the
policemen present, looking closely into his face. "Of course you need
not criminate yourself."

"What should I know about it? No;--I know nothing about the stick. I
never had such a stick, or, as I believe, saw one before." He did it
very well, but he could not keep the blood from rising to his cheeks.
The policemen were sure that he was the murderer,--but what could
they do?

"You saved his life, certainly," said the Duchess to her friend on
the Sunday afternoon. That had been before the bludgeon was found.

"I do not believe that they could have touched a hair of his head,"
said Madame Goesler.

"Would they not? Everybody felt sure that he would be hung. Would
it not have been awful? I do not see how you are to help becoming
man and wife now, for all the world are talking about you." Madame
Goesler smiled, and said that she was quite indifferent to the
world's talk. On the Tuesday after the bludgeon was found, the two
ladies met again. "Now it was known that it was the clergyman," said
the Duchess.

"I never doubted it."