ome other explanation of the Jew's death. At last he raised his eyes.

"I have been trying to overhaul my knowledge of Levison's past in order
to account for his murder by some other means than the obvious," he
said. "And, with every desire to fit him with an appropriate murderer, I
have entirely failed. There is no need to disguise the fact that he was
my tool--a dirty little shyster who has done odd jobs for me--but he was
not the sort of person to inspire a thirst for bloodshed. A
mean-spirited little rascal, with no ideas beyond the price of a
bill-stamp and overcharging what he called his 'exes.' There was no
one to kill him but you, my friend."

"Don't call me that," said Leslie hotly. "I repeat that I did not kill
him."

Nugent shook his head with an incredulity the more exasperating because
it seemed so thoroughly genuine. "At any rate, a judge and jury would
find a difficulty in believing to the contrary. Let me state the case
just to show you your danger. You have yourself admitted acquaintance
and business relations with Levison--a stranger in the place, who is not
known to have had dealings with any one else. Point one for the
prosecution. It can further be proved that you had arranged to meet him
at that lonely spot----"

"Pardon me," interrupted Leslie hoarsely. "That cannot be proved unless
you volunteer as a witness, and give away the whole vile story of the
plot to abduct Miss Maynard."

The gentle tolerance of Nugent's smile was harder to bear than abuse
would have been. "Really, Chermside, you are an impossible fellow to
have as a partner in a losing game," he said. "At the risk of being
wearisome, let me repeat that your trial would spell ruin for me. It is
Louise Aubin, Miss Maynard's French maid, who is at the bottom of the
trouble. Levison, like the vulgar wretch he was, amused himself with a
flirtation with her. It seems that, most indiscreetly, he confided to
her that he had some hold on you, and that it was either to be tightened
or relaxed after an interview arranged for that night. Point two for the
prosecution."

Leslie's heart sank as the remorseless indictment against him was
unfolded. He had been naturally disposed to mistrust Nugent's profession
of mutual interests, but with the introduction of this new and
independent witness into the case this was explained. Louise Aubin, if
she had been confided in by Levison, was certainly in a position to
wreck the two of them. Yet once more