ike
myself, was moved afresh by it in the presence of the stranger. Mr.
Corbeck's face grew stern. All the pity died away; and in its stead
came a grim, hard look which boded ill for whoever had been the cause
of this mighty downfall. This look in turn gave place to one of
decision; the volcanic energy of the man was working to some definite
purpose. He glanced around at us; and as his eyes lighted on Nurse
Kennedy his eyebrows went up a trifle. She noted the look, and glanced
interrogatively at Miss Trelawny, who flashed back a reply with a
glance. She went quietly from the room, closing the door behind her.
Mr. Corbeck looked first at me, with a strong man's natural impulse to
learn from a man rather than a woman; then at Miss Trelawny, with a
remembrance of the duty of courtesy, and said:

"Tell me all about it. How it began and when!" Miss Trelawny looked
at me appeallingly; and forthwith I told him all that I knew. He
seemed to make no motion during the whole time; but insensibly the
bronze face became steel. When, at the end, I told him of Mr. Marvin's
visit and of the Power of Attorney, his look began to brighten. And
when, seeing his interest in the matter, I went more into detail as to
its terms, he spoke:

"Good! Now I know where my duty lies!"

With a sinking heart I heard him. Such a phrase, coming at such a
time, seemed to close the door to my hopes of enlightenment.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling that my question was a feeble one.

His answer emphasized my fears:

"Trelawny knows what he is doing. He had some definite purpose in all
that he did; and we must not thwart him. He evidently expected
something to happen, and guarded himself at all points."

"Not at all points!" I said impulsively. "There must have been a weak
spot somewhere, or he wouldn't be lying here like that!" Somehow his
impassiveness surprised me. I had expected that he would find a valid
argument in my phrase; but it did not move him, at least not in the way
I thought. Something like a smile flickered over his swarthy face as
he answered me:

"This is not the end! Trelawny did not guard himself to no purpose.
Doubtless, he expected this too; or at any rate the possibility of it."

"Do you know what he expected, or from what source?" The questioner
was Miss Trelawny.

The answer came at once: "No! I know nothing of either. I can
guess..." He stopped suddenly.

"Guess what?" The suppressed exci