has spoken to me on the subject. But I understand that it
has not yet been announced."

"No," said Simon. "It was a secret engagement; and marriage would have
been impossible while Sir Reginald lived."

"So there we get the motive on her part. And you yourself, Mr. Rattar,
_know_ both these young people, and you believe that this accusation
against them is probably well founded?"

"I believe, Mr. Carrington, that there is no proof and probably never
will be any; but all the evidence, positive and negative, together with
the question of motive, points to nobody else. What alternative is
possible?"

"That is the difficulty, so far," agreed Carrington, but his thoughts at
the moment seemed to be following his smoke rings up towards the
ceiling. For a few moments he was silent, and then he asked:

"What other people benefited by the will and to what extent?"

The lawyer went to his safe, brought out the will, and read through the
legacies to the servants, mentioning that the chauffeur and gardener
were excluded by circumstances from suspicion.

"That leaves Mr. Bisset," observed Carrington. "Well, I shall be seeing
him to-morrow. Any other legatees who might conceivably have committed
the crime?"

Simon looked serious and spoke with a little reluctance that he seemed
to make no effort to conceal.

"There is a relative of the family, a Mr. Cromarty of Stanesland, who
certainly benefited considerably by the will and who certainly lives in
the neighbourhood--if one once admitted the possibility of the crime
being committed by some one outside the house. And I admit that it is a
possibility."

"Ah!" said Carrington. "I heard about him last night, but so far
suspicion certainly hasn't fastened on him. What sort of a fellow is
he?"

"He has lived the greater part of his life in the wilder parts of
America--rather what one might call a rough and ready customer."

It was apparent that Mr. Carrington, for all his easy-going air, was
extremely interested.

"This is quite interesting!" he murmured. "To what extent did he benefit
by the will?"

"L1,200."

"L1,200!" Carrington repeated the words with an odd intonation and
stared very hard at the lawyer. There was no doubt that his interest was
highly excited now, and yet it seemed to be rather a different quality
of interest this time.

"A considerable sum," said Simon.

"That is the only point about it which strikes you?"

Simon was manifestly puzzled.

"What