garden gate the pair shook hands affectionately enough but as soon as the door had closed behind his visitor john fell into a fit of laughter which sounded and even devilish in the ears of francis so another day had passed and little learnt but the young man remembered that the morrow was tuesday and promised himself some curious discoveries all might be well or all might be ill he was sure at least to some curious information and perhaps by good luck get at the heart of the mystery which surrounded his father and his family as the hour of the dinner drew near many preparations were made in the garden of the house with the green blinds the table which was partly visible to francis through the chestnut leaves was destined to serve as a and carried of plates and the materials for the other which was almost entirely concealed had been set apart for the and francis could catch glimpses of white cloth and silver plate mr arrived punctual to the minute he looked like a man upon his guard and spoke low and the on the other hand appeared to enjoy an unusual flow of spirits his laugh which was youthful and pleasant to hear sounded frequently from the garden by the and the changes of his voice it was obvious that he told many droll stories and the accents of a variety of differ new nights ent nations and before he and the young clergyman had finished their all feeling of distrust was at an end and they were talking together like a pair of school companions at length miss made her appearance carrying the soup mr ran to offer her assistance which she refused and there was an of among the which seemed to have reference to this primitive manner of waiting by one of the company one is more at one s ease mr was heard to declare next moment they were all three in their places and francis could see as little as he could hear of what passed but the dinner seemed to go merrily there was a perpetual of voices and sound of knives and forks below the chestnut and francis who had no more than a roll to was affected with envy by the comfort and deliberation of the meal the party lingered over one dish after another and then over a delicate with a bottle of old wine carefully by the hand of the himself as it began to grow dark a lamp was set upon the table and a couple of candles on the for the night was perfectly pure and light besides from the door and window in the so that the garden was fairly illuminated and the leaves in the darkness for perhaps the tenth time miss entered the house and on this occasion she returned with the coffee tray which she placed upon the at the same moment her father rose from his seat the coffee is my province francis heard him say and next moment he saw his supposed father standing by the in the light of the candles talking over his shoulder all the while mr poured out two cups of the brown and then by a rapid act of emptied the the s diamond contents of a tiny into the smaller one of the two the thing was so swiftly done that even francis who looked straight into his face had hardly time to perceive the movement before it was completed and next instant and still laughing mr had turned again towards the table with a cup in either hand we have done with this said he we may expect our famous hebrew it would be impossible to the confusion and distress of francis he saw foul play going forward before his eyes and he felt bound to interfere but knew not how it might be a mere and then how should he look if he were to offer an unnecessary warning or again if it were serious the criminal might be his own father and then how should he not lament if he were to bring ruin on the author of his days for the first time he became conscious of his own position as a spy to wait at such a juncture and with such a conflict of sentiments in his bosom was to suffer the most acute torture he clung to the bars of the shutters his heart beat fast and with and he felt a strong sweat break forth upon his body several minutes passed he seemed to perceive the conversation die away and grow less and less in vivacity and volume but still no sign of any alarming or even notable event suddenly the ring of a glass breaking was followed by a faint and dull sound as of a person who should have fallen forward with his head upon the table at the same moment a piercing scream rose from the garden what have you done cried miss he is dead the replied in a violent whisper so strong and that every word was audible to the at the window silence said mr the man is as new nights well as i am take him by the heels whilst i carry him by the shoulders francis heard miss break forth into a passion of tears do you hear what i say resumed the in the same tones or do you wish to quarrel with me i give you your choice miss there was another pause and the spoke again take that man by the heels he said i must have him brought into the house if i were a little younger i could help myself against the world but now that years and dangers are upon me and my hands are weakened i must turn to you for aid it is a crime replied the girl i am your father said mr this appeal seemed 