holders? Why, I don't know; perhaps we can make a trade. Come in
with me. Why, just see how gentle the dog is with you!"

"Isn't he that way with everybody? I supposed he was no watchdog."

"Oh, indeed he is. He usually won't allow anybody to touch him, except
those whom he knows well. I'm astonished that he lets you come to the
house at all."

They had reached the door by this time. The peddler laid his hand on the
servant's arm and halted a moment. "Where was it that she threw herself
out?"

"From the last window upstairs there."

"And did it kill her at once?"

"Yes. Anyway she was unconscious when we came down."

"Was the master at home?"

"Why, yes, it happened in the middle of the night."

"She had a fever, didn't she? Had she been ill long?"

"No. She was in bed that day, but we thought it was nothing of
importance."

"These fevers come on quickly sometimes," remarked the old man wisely,
and added: "This case interests the entire neighbourhood and I will show
you that I can be grateful for anything you may tell me--of course, only
what a faithful servant could tell. It will interest my customers very
much."

"You know all there is to know," said the valet, evidently disappointed
that he had nothing to tell which could win the peddler's gratitude.
"There are no secrets about it. Everybody knows that they were a very
happy couple, and even if there was a little talk between them on that
day, why it was pure accident and had nothing to do with the mistress'
excitement."

"Then there was a quarrel between them?"

"Are people talking about it?"

"I've heard some things said. They even say that this quarrel was the
reason for--her death."

"It's stupid nonsense!" exclaimed the servant. The old peddler seemed to
like the young man's honest indignation.

While they were talking, they had passed through a long corridor and the
young man laid his hand on one of the doors as the peddler asked, "Can I
see Miss Nanette alone?"

"Alone? Oho, she's engaged to me!"

"I know that," said the stranger, who seemed to be initiated into all
the doings of this household. "And I am an old man--all I meant was that
I would rather not have any of the other servants about."

"I'll keep the cook out of the way if you want me to."

"That would be a good idea. It isn't easy to talk, business before
others," remarked the old man as they entered the room. It was a
comfortably furnished and cozily warm apartment. Only