y unusual woman,' said Mr. Semple.

'But even so----' began Lady Falconer.

'Even so,' repeated the lawyer, 'my friend Peter and his talkative
neighbour will soon be back again, and I must examine my witness before
they return.'

'But a witness,' exclaimed Lady Falconer, 'whose evidence is based on
the only-half-intelligible gossip of a Spanish serving-woman made
twenty-five years ago, and a week spent in an out-of-the-way
mountain-village where she was ill nearly the whole time!'

Mr. Semple waved aside protests. 'Do forgive me for bothering you,' he
said, 'and try to remember positively if there were any friends or
neighbours who came about the house of whom we could perhaps ask
tidings?'

'I am sure there were none,' said Lady Falconer. 'The charm of the
place to Mrs. Ogilvie was, I know, its solitude, just as was its charm
for us also.'

'No English people?'

'None, I am quite sure.'

'You have no idea who those friends were to whom Mrs. Ogilvie had
lately said good-bye, and who were starting on a voyage?'

'I think,' said Lady Falconer slowly, 'it was because the storm blew so
loudly that we spoke of them; and, yes, I am sure the woman crossed
herself and prayed for those at sea.'

She hesitated, and Mr. Semple giving her a quick glance said, 'I am
only asking for a woman's impression.'

'And at this length of time I cannot even tell you how I came to have
this impression,' she replied, 'and yet the picture remains in my mind
that these people, whoever they were, were sailing from Lisbon. The
maid who waited upon me had evidently been engaged in Lisbon.'

Peter and Mr. Lawrence were heard in the hall outside, and the
motor-car was at the door.

'Thank you very much,' said the lawyer, as the door opened.

Mr. Semple left the following morning, and did not return until the end
of the week. He was a contented man, and made an excellent companion,
and Peter enjoyed seeing him again and having his companionship at
dinner on the night of his return. He was always interested in
something, and quite disposed to take a book and remain quiet when his
client was busy or disinclined for conversation. He and Peter smoked
in silence for a considerable time after the servants had left the
room, and even when an adjournment had been made to the library the
lawyer, who was possibly tired after his journey, sat quietly in a
leather armchair by the fire without saying anything.

Peter began to talk about the