Brown, sir--Mr. Bernard Brown."

Sir Allan was seldom clumsy in little things, but at that moment he
dropped the book which he had been reading upon the floor. The servant
hastened toward it, but Sir Allan waved him away. He preferred to pick
it up himself.

"I'm afraid I've lost my place," he remarked, turning over the leaves.
"You can show Mr. Brown in here, Morton," he added. "I may as well see
what he wants."

The man withdrew, and Sir Allan recommenced the chapter. Then the door
was opened again, and the visitor was admitted. Sir Allan laid the paper
knife carefully in his place, and shutting the book, rose from his
chair.

"Mr. Brown," he said, "I am very pleased to see you. Come and take a
seat here."

He stood up in an easy attitude upon the hearthrug, and pointed with a
smile to the chair which his last visitor had occupied. But he did not
offer his hand to Mr. Brown, nor did Mr. Brown appear to expect it.

The apartment was in the semi-gloom of twilight, for the silver lamp
burning on the bracket by Sir Allan's side was covered with a
rose-colored shade, and threw all its light downward. The art treasures
with which the room was crowded, and the almost voluptuous grace of its
adornment and coloring, were more suggested than seen. Mr. Brown, who
had advanced only a few steps from the closed door, covered his eyes
with his hand, and looked a little dazed.

"Do you live in darkness?" he said in a low tone. "I want to see your
face."

Sir Allan shrugged his shoulders, and turned up the lamp a little higher
than it was. The faces of the two men were now distinctly visible to
each other, and the contrast between them was rather startling. Sir
Allan's was placid, courteous, and inquiring. Mr. Brown's was white
almost to ghastliness, and his eyes were burning with a strange light.

"I wish you'd sit down, my dear fellow!" Sir Allan remarked in a tone of
good-natured remonstrance. "It worries me to see you standing there, and
I'm sure you look tired enough."

Mr. Brown took no notice whatever of the invitation.

"I have come to see you, Sir Allan Beaumerville," he said slowly, "to
lay certain facts before you, and to ask your advice concerning them--as
a disinterested party."

"Very happy, I'm sure, to do the best I can," Sir Allan murmured,
lighting a fresh cigarette. "I wish you'd sit down to it, though. I
suppose it's about that murder we were mixed up in? Horrid affair it
was."

"Yes, it was a ve