apped out his first words jerkily.

"No. I can't."

"Try three guesses," suggested his visitor. "Come now, number one----?"

For a moment Simon was silent, but to-night he could not hide the
working of that face which usually hid his thoughts so effectually. It
was plain he hesitated what line to take.

"You have seen Miss Farmond, I hear," he said.

"You're on the scent," said his visitor encouragingly. "Have another
go."

"You believe her story."

"I do."

"It's false."

Ned stared at him very hard and then he spoke deliberately.

"I'm wondering," said he.

"Wondering what?" asked Simon.

"Whether a horse whip or the toe of a shooting boot is the best cure for
your complaint."

The lawyer shrank back into his chair.

"Do you threaten me?" he jerked out. "Be careful!"

"If I threatened you I'd certainly do what I threatened," said Ned. "So
far I'm only wondering. Where did you learn to lie, Mr. Rattar?"

The lawyer made no answer at all. His mind seemed concentrated on
guessing the other's probable actions.

"Out with it, man! I've met some derned good liars in my time, but you
beat the lot. I'm anxious to know where you learned the trick, that's
all."

"Why do you believe her more than me?" asked Simon.

"Because you've been found out lying before. That was a pretty stiff one
about your engaging Carrington, wasn't it?"

Simon was quite unable to control his violent start, and his face turned
whiter.

"I--I didn't say I did," he stammered.

"Well," said Ned, "I admit I wasn't there to hear you, but I know
Carrington made you put your foot fairly in it just by way of helping
him to size you up, and he got your size right enough too."

"Then----" began Simon, and stopped and changed it into: "What does
Carrington suspect--er--accuse me of?"

Ned stared at him for several seconds without speaking, and this
procedure seemed to disconcert the lawyer more than anything had done
yet.

"What--what does Carrington mean?" he repeated.

"He means you've lied, and he believes Miss Farmond, and he believes Sir
Malcolm, and he believes me, and he puts you down as a pretty bad egg.
What did you expect to be accused of?"

Simon could no more hide his relief to-night than he could hide his
fears.

"Only of what you have told me--only of course of what you say! But I
can explain. In good time I can explain."

It was at that moment that the door opened sharply and the start the
lawyer gave showed