ng times
was ripe for any great surprise. It was much moved and excited by a
startling bit of news that spread very rapidly next day.

An atrocious murder had been committed on the Stamboul side, near the
Bridge of Boats.

Certainly, murders were not unknown in this hive of complex life,
harbouring as it did the very scum and refuse of European rascality.
But the victims were mostly vile, nameless vagabonds, low Greeks,
Maltese suttlers, Italian sailors, or one or other of the hybrid
mongrel ruffians following in the track of our armies, any of whom
might be sent to their long account without being greatly missed.

It was otherwise now: the murdered man was a prominent personage, an
Englishman of high rank, a rich and powerful representative of a great
people. No wonder that Constantinople was agitated and disturbed.

On this occasion Lord Lydstone was the murdered man.

He had been found at daybreak by the Turkish patrol, lying in a
doorway just where he had fallen dead, stabbed to the heart.

The body was taken to the nearest guard, and inquiries were
instituted. A card-case found on the body led to identification, and a
report made to the British Embassy set in motion the law and justice
of the peace.

Nothing satisfactory or conclusive was brought to light. No one could
account for his lordship's presence in that, the lowest quarter of the
city; the only clue to his movements was furnished by his steward and
body-servant on board the yacht.

The valet came on shore and gave his evidence before the informal
court, which was dealing with the case at the British Embassy,
presided over by the _attaches_.

"When did you see his lordship last?"

"Last night. My lord dined on board alone. He appeared depressed, and
altogether low. He told me he should go to bed early."

"And did he?"

"No. Late in the evening a shore-boat came off--one of those caiques,
I think they called them--with a letter, very urgent."

"For Lord Lydstone?"

"For his lordship. He seemed much disturbed on reading it."

"Well?"

"My lord called me and said he would dress to go on shore. I gave him
out the suit which he was wearing when the body was found."

"He said nothing about the letter, or its contents?"

"Oh, no! My lord was never given to talking much, although I was his
confidential valet since he left college. He never spoke to me of his
affairs. My lord always kept his distance, as it was proper he
should."

"Could yo