inclination to make an effort and see.

"You speak with strange conviction," I said; "but in all probability
you are doomed to be disappointed. So far as we know, Mr. Clavering is a
respectable man."

He lifted his hat from the table. "I do not propose to denounce him;
I do not even propose to speak his name again. I am not a fool, Mr.
Raymond. I have spoken thus plainly to you only in explanation of last
night's most unfortunate betrayal; and while I trust you will regard
what I have told you as confidential, I also hope you will give me
credit for behaving, on the whole, as well as could be expected under
the circumstances." And he held out his hand.

"Certainly," I replied as I took it. Then, with a sudden impulse to
test the accuracy of this story of his, inquired if he had any means of
verifying his statement of having had this dream at the time spoken of:
that is, before the murder and not afterwards.

"No, sir; I know myself that I had it the night previous to that of Mr.
Leavenworth's death; but I cannot prove the fact."

"Did not speak of it next morning to any one?"

"O no, sir; I was scarcely in a position to do so."

"Yet it must have had a great effect upon you, unfitting you for
work----"

"Nothing unfits me for work," was his bitter reply.

"I believe you," I returned, remembering his diligence for the last few
days. "But you must at least have shown some traces of having passed an
uncomfortable night. Have you no recollection of any one speaking to you
in regard to your appearance the next morning?"

"Mr. Leavenworth may have done so; no one else would be likely to
notice." There was sadness in the tone, and my own voice softened as I
said:

"I shall not be at the house to-night, Mr. Harwell; nor do I know when
I shall return there. Personal considerations keep me from Miss
Leavenworth's presence for a time, and I look to you to carry on the
work we have undertaken without my assistance, unless you can bring it
here----"

"I can do that."

"I shall expect you, then, to-morrow evening."

"Very well, sir "; and he was going, when a sudden thought seemed to
strike him. "Sir," he said, "as we do not wish to return to this subject
again, and as I have a natural curiosity in regard to this man, would
you object to telling me what you know of him? You believe him to be a
respectable man; are you acquainted with him, Mr. Raymond?"

"I know his name, and where he resides."

"And where is tha