nce of desires so
discreditable to him."

There was something in this reply and the impartial aspect of the lady
delivering it that was worthy of notice, perhaps. And such it would have
undoubtedly received from Mr. Byrd, at least, if the words she had used
in characterizing this person had not struck him so deeply that he
forgot to note any thing further.

"A man of great natural force--of strong, if not violent traits of
character," he kept repeating to himself. "The description, as I live,
of the person whose picture I attempted to draw last night."

And, ignoring every thing else, he waited with almost sickening
expectation for the question that would link this nephew of Mrs.
Clemmens either to the tragedy itself, or to that person still in the
background, of whose secret connection with a man of this type, he had
obtained so curious and accidental a knowledge.

But it did not come. With a quiet abandonment of the by no means
exhausted topic, which convinced Mr. Byrd that the coroner had plans and
suspicions to which the foregoing questions had given no clue, Dr.
Tredwell leaned slowly forward, and, after surveying the witness with a
glance of cautious inquiry, asked in a way to concentrate the attention
of all present:

"You say that you knew the Widow Clemmens well; that you have always
been on friendly terms with her, and are acquainted with her affairs.
Does that mean you have been made a confidante of her troubles, her
responsibilities, and her cares?"

"Yes, sir; that is, in as far as she ever made a confidant of any one.
Mrs. Clemmens was not of a complaining disposition, neither was she by
nature very communicative. Only at rare times did she make mention of
herself or her troubles: but when she did, it was invariably to me,
sir--or so she used to say; and she was not a woman to deceive you in
such matters."

"Very well, then, you are in a position to tell us something of her
history, and why it is she kept herself so close after she came to this
town?"

But Miss Firman uttered a vigorous disclaimer to this. "No, sir," said
she, "I am not. Mrs. Clemmens' history was simple enough, but her
reasons for living as she did have never been explained. She was not
naturally a quiet woman, and, when a girl, was remarkable for her
spirits and fondness for company."

"Has she had any great sorrow since you knew her--any serious loss or
disappointment that may have soured her disposition, and turned her, as