in a conversation with me,
acknowledges that there is a secret in the family, and is just upon the
point of revealing its nature, when Mr. Clavering enters the house. Upon
his departure she declares her unwillingness ever to mention the subject
again."

Mr. Gryce slowly waved the paper aside. "And from these facts you draw
the inference that Eleanore Leavenworth is the wife of Mr. Clavering?"

"I do."

"And that, being his wife----"

"It would be natural for her to conceal anything she knew likely to
criminate him."

"Always supposing Clavering himself had done anything criminal!"

"Of course."

"Which latter supposition you now propose to justify!"

"Which latter supposition it is left for _us_ to justify."

A peculiar gleam shot over Mr. Gryce's somewhat abstracted countenance.
"Then you have no new evidence against Mr. Clavering?"

"I should think the fact just given, of his standing in the relation of
unacknowledged husband to the suspected party was something."

"No positive evidence as to his being the assassin of Mr. Leavenworth, I
mean?"

I was obliged to admit I had none which he would Consider positive. "But
I can show the existence of motive; and I can likewise show it was not
only possible, but probable, he was in the house at the time of the
murder."

"Ah, you can!" cried Mr. Gryce, rousing a little from his abstraction.

"The motive was the usual one of self-interest. Mr. Leavenworth stood
in the way of Eleanore's acknowledging him as a husband, and he must
therefore be put out of the way."

"Weak!"

"Motives for murders are sometimes weak."

"The motive for this was not. Too much calculation was shown for the arm
to have been nerved by anything short of the most deliberate intention,
founded upon the deadliest necessity of passion or avarice."

"Avarice?"

"One should never deliberate upon the causes which have led to the
destruction of a rich man without taking into account that most common
passion of the human race."

"But----"

"Let us hear what you have to say of Mr. Clavering's presence in the
house at the time of the murder."

I related what Thomas the butler had told me in regard to Mr.
Clavering's call upon Miss Leavenworth that night, and the lack of proof
which existed as to his having left the house when supposed to do so.

"That is worth remembering," said Mr. Gryce at the conclusion.
"Valueless as direct evidence, it might prove of great value as
corroborative