was
murdered that very night. Imagine my sensations for the next few days,
living in the same house with the woman who had heard me say _that_! She
held my fate in her hands, but, thank God, she evidently had such faith
in my honour and humanity that she forebore to--er----"

"Peach," suggested Carrington, "though as a matter of fact, I fancy she
had forgotten all about the incident."

"Forgotten my words!" exclaimed the baronet indignantly. "Impossible! I
can never forget them myself so long as I live!"

"Well," said Carrington soothingly, "let us suppose she remembered them.
Anyhow she said nothing, and, that being so, how did you first actually
know that you were suspected?"

"My own man of business thought it his duty to drop me a hint!" cried
the baronet.

This piece of information seemed to produce quite as much impression on
his new acquaintance as his first revelation, though he took it rather
more quietly.

"Really!" said he in a curious voice. "And what course of action did he
advise?"

"He advised me to keep away from the place. In fact he even suggested I
should go abroad--and, by Gad, I'm going too!"

To this, Carrington made no reply at all. His thoughts, in fact, seemed
to have wandered entirely away from Sir Malcolm Cromarty. The baronet
seemed a trifle disappointed at his lack of adequate interest.

"Don't you sympathise with me," he enquired.

"I beg your pardon," said Carrington, "my thoughts were wandering for
the moment. I do sympathise. By the way, what are you going to do now?"

The baronet started.

"By Gad, my own thoughts are wandering!" said he, "though I certainly
have some excuse! I must get down to the Kings Arms and order a trap to
take me out to Keldale House as quickly as I can." And then he added
mysteriously, "I only came down here because I was urgently wired for by
some one who--well, I couldn't refuse."

"I'm going to the Kings Arms, too. We'll walk down together, if you
don't mind."

"Delighted," said the baronet, "if you don't mind being seen with such a
marked man."

"I rather like them marked," smiled Carrington.

All the way to the hotel the notorious Sir Malcolm pursued what had
evidently become his favourite subject:--the vast sensation he was
causing in society and the pain it gave a gentleman of title and
position to be placed in such a predicament. When they reached the Kings
Arms, his new acquaintance insisted in a very friendly and confident way
th