Year: 1878

o ! a silver flute. A couch was drawn halfway l across the window, and at the foot of the couch stood 8 small inlaid table. Scattered | about were few ordinary drawing chairs, and l at the table one easy chair. Upon the inlaid table were placed cigars, tobacco jar, a cig- | arette book, an ash tray, and box of match | es Although the room was small one, three l gas jets were at their full height, and John Bell was compelled to shade his eyes for moment. la ''You will sit down?" said the Italian, wav- ing his hand to the chair by the table and sink ing softly on the couch himself

 I Bell hesitated a moment, looked slowly around the room, and then said, q will.'' The Italian rolled up cigarette, lighted it, and threw himself inte the arm of the couch. He was low sized man of about five-and-for- l ty years of age, bald, dark-skinned, black bearded, black-eyed, with black heavy eye brows-not at all pleasant face. Although there was always faint smile on the features it seemed smile the motive of which had passed away and that the smile itself ought to have passed away too. It was the flag end of stale smile. and the face would have been much improved if it had been swept off alto gether. Notwithstanding this unpleasant smile the Italians face was handsome, emil nently handsome. l

 John Bell was evidently little perplexed, for he paused awhile before even attempting to offer an explanation or apology for his late visit. At last he spoke:

 :As you may fancy, Mr. Cordella, nothing but a matter of great importance could induce me to intrude upon you at this time of night.

 ''Pray, no apology. know how troubled you must be in your mind. sympathize with you; sympathiZe with you out of my heart, indeed Mr. Bell In your trouble you no doubt could find no sleep, so you came out for a walk, for fresh air, and you see my light, a neighbor's light, and you come in. Make nothing of it. always sit up till late-these l times till daylight. Will you smoker"

 q will smoke, thank you. But MT. Cor della, it was not an accident brought me here tonight 1 came on purpose. 1came on most important business. 1 owe you thanks for your great kindness on that awful night-I have come now to make but poor return. 1 am sorry to say that find it absolutely neces- sary to ask you some questions which, though they may seem impertinent at the outset are of vital importance to me. You will answer me without taking offense fer what must seem an unpardonable and outrageously ill-timed intrusion and unwarrantable inquistiveness."

 'Indeed you may ask and indeed will an- swer," said the Italian, waving his hand soft ly through the smoke of his cigarette.

 Remember before I begin that will ask you no question which is not of importance, and that have excellent cause to risk seem ing impertinent in order to get the information I require"

 Speaking through veil of smoke the Ital- ian answered: T have told you MT. John Bell, that will answer you. What is it that l have to conceal"

 Nothing, no doubt, about yourself, but I am not come to speak about yourself I want to ask you some questions about another First and foremost, you and are in this room; who else is in this house?"

 The Italian took his cigarette slowly from hls lips with his left hand, emerged from the smoke, and leaned toward John Bell until his left elbow rested on the couch. Then thrust ing his right hand softly between his waist coat and shirt at the breast he looked up into John Bells face with an expression of playful surprise.

 ''Why ?"

 John Bell took his segar from his mouth and moved only his eyes toward the other. For moment the two men regarded one another as though neither had the fantest l clue to what wee in the mind of the oUner, ana each was very desirous to get some insight in- to the thought of the other before proceeding further. Said Bell, '"That is not a very clear answer to my question, is- it ?"

 No; but you come to me telling me you are curious to know some things. You come at two o'clock in the morning that is strange. | too, is strange. You make me feel, like your self, curious You must not feel angry with me II feel curious, and ask you why do you want to know who else is in this house ?"

 "You are quite right" said John Bell. 'I was most unreasonable in expecting that I, who am almost complete stranger to you, had any right to question you about your household without giving ample reason. I'll | glVe you the reason now, and repeat the Ques- tion when l have done so.'

 I ''It is so kind of you," said the Italian, drawing his had out from under his waistcoat, and gently resuming his old pose in the arm of the couch. AS he lay back he touched his chest, and said with an apologetic smile, 'sI have the heart disease, and any shock or thing gives me ah such great pain. When you asked me that strange question I thought I should die. You will pardon me; your fa- ther's sad fate has quite unnerved me for a moment. An! you will pardon mel I feared well, 1 feared you wished to know whether cannot you underestimate" He closed his eyes and drew back his lips from his teeth, and 1 inhaled painfully through his set teeth.

 T am very sorry that you suffer from heart | disease, and l am very sorry l have caused | you pain. can now see my question in anoth- CT light, and that it was equal to an inquiry into your means. of defense. I am sorry I was so abrupt. hope you will forgive me and hear me out Mir. Cordella ?"

 The Italian opened his eyes with an expres- sion of pain and effort answering very gently, Do not make any further apologies, Mir. Bell: please go on. l amquite able and most willing to listen." He closed his eyes again and gradually grew paler.

 John Bell shook himself back into his chair. Tt will take some time," he said, land I shall have to go back to the 4th of June My father left home as usual at half past eight You may remember on that day in the forenoon a particular letter was dropped in the box of No. 17, my fathers house, That letter was not for any one we knew, being addressed to" (here John Bell took the slip of paper out of his watch pocket and read from it) ".Sig. Alessandro Pozzone, F Granthorne avenue. Dulwich, Londra.' Knowing that you were an Italian, and being ignorant of your name, and seeing how easily the mistake between ' and r might arise, and finding the post-mark of 'Iorlno' on the envelope, I wrote line to The Owner of No. ', enclosing the foreign letter and asking you if it were for you'

 "You were most thoughtful"

 ''To my note signed my name, You re- turned verbal message, saying that the for eign letter was not for you that you knew nothing whatever of the person; Alessandro Pozzone, to whom it was;addressed and that you yourself would return it to the postman when he next called. You gave you message verbally, accompanied by your card This was about noon. By your card and from your evidence at the inquest I learned that your name is Roberto Cordella. You will I hope, pardon my great minuteness. but all this is really of prime importance"

 The Italian was rolling up another cigarette he paused, opening his half-closed eyes, and slgnified by gracious gesture that he was paying attention and held himself completely at the disposal of the other.

 At twelve o'clock that night my father was murdered"

 "Yes," throug dense cloud of tobacco smoke.

 About an hour ago came on document which will now take the liberty of reading to you. It is in my fathers handwriting and relates to an event ln his own experienced fear. I'd better stop. Your heart seems to trouble you again.

 ''It is nothing pressing it thus relieves it. Please go on."