ere certainly in an
extraordinarily sound sleep. I was almost alarmed; until I remembered
that it was a little after two when I looked up from reading aloud to
keep myself awake and discovered that you had only just come home. I had
no fire. You know how easily late hours bring on my headaches; a little
thought might possibly have suggested that I should be anxious to hear.
But no; it seems I cannot profit by experience, Arthur. And even now you
have not answered surely a very natural question. You do not recollect,
perhaps, exactly what did happen last night? Did you go in the direction
even of Widderstone?'

'Yes, Sheila, I went to Widderstone.'

'It was of course absurd to suppose that sitting on a seat beside
the broken-down grave of a suicide would have the slightest effect on
one's--one's physical condition; though possibly it might affect one's
brain. It would mine; I am at least certain of that. It was your own
prescription, however; and it merely occurred to me to inquire whether
the actual experience has not brought you round to my own opinion.'

'Yes, I think it has,' Lawford answered calmly. 'But I don't quite see
what suicide has got to do with it; unless--You know Widderstone, then,
Sheila?'

'I drove there last Saturday afternoon.'

'For prayer or praise?' Although Lawford had not actually raised his
head, he became conscious rather of the wonderfully adjusted mass
of hair than of the pained dignity in the face that was now closely
regarding him.

'I went,' came the rigidly controlled retort, 'simply to test an
inconceivable story.'

'And returned?'

'Convinced, Arthur, of its inconceivability. But if you would kindly
inform me what precise formula you followed at Widderstone last night, I
would tell you why I think the explanation, or rather your first account
of the matter, is not an explanation of the facts.'

Lawford shot a rather doglike glance over his toast. 'Danton?' he said.

'Candidly, Arthur, Mr Danton doubts the whole story. Your very
conduct--well, it would serve no useful purpose to go into that.
Candidly, on the other hand, Mr. Danton did make some extremely helpful
suggestions--basing them, of course, on the TRUTH of your account. He
has seen a good deal of life; and certainly very mysterious things do
occur to quite innocent and well-meaning people without the faintest
shadow of warning, and as Mr. Bethany himself said, evil birds do come
home to roost, and often out of a cle