e, no more than just, that, upon
withdrawing from the table, he should endeavor to put himself in the way
of settling that second question, upon whose answer in the affirmative
depended the rightful establishment of his secret suspicions.

That was, whether this young man was at or near the house of his aunt at
the time when she was assaulted.

Mrs. Hart's parlors were always thrown open to her boarders in the
evening.

There, at any time from seven to ten, you might meet a merry crowd of
young people intent upon enjoying themselves, and usually highly
successful in their endeavors to do so. Into this throng Mr. Byrd
accordingly insinuated himself, and being of the sort to win instant
social recognition, soon found he had but to make his choice in order to
win for himself that _tete-a-tete_ conversation from which he hoped so
much. He consequently surveyed the company with a critical eye, and soon
made up his mind as to which lady was the most affable in her manners
and the least likely to meet his advances with haughty reserve, and
having won an introduction to her, sat down at her side with the stern
determination of making her talk about Mr. Mansell.

"You have a very charming company here," he remarked; "the house seems
to be filled with a most cheerful class of people."

"Yes," was the not-unlooked-for reply. "We are all merry enough if we
except Mr. Mansell. But, of course, there is excuse for him. No one
expects him to join in our sports."

"Mr. Mansell? the gentleman who came in late to supper?" repeated Mr.
Byrd, with no suggestion of the secret satisfaction he felt at the
immediate success of his scheme.

"Yes, he is in great trouble, you know; is the nephew of the woman who
was killed a few days ago at Sibley, don't you remember? The widow lady
who was struck on the head by a man of the name of Hildreth, and who
died after uttering something about a ring, supposed by many to be an
attempt on her part to describe the murderer?"

"Yes," was the slow, almost languid, response; "and a dreadful thing,
too; quite horrifying in its nature. And so this Mr. Mansell is her
nephew?" he suggestively repeated. "Odd! I suppose he has told you all
about the affair?"

"He? Mercy! I don't suppose you could get him to say anything about it
to save your life. He isn't of the talking sort. Besides, I don't
believe he knows any more about it than you or I. He hasn't been to
Sibley."

"Didn't he go to the funeral?"