"To tell you the truth, I have often wondered if--if that was what really did happen.

There is the fact that Brake's wife disappeared mysteriously--that Ransford made a similar mysterious disappearance about the same time--that Brake was obviously suffering from intense and bitter hatred when I saw him after the trial--hatred of some person on whom he meant to be revenged--and that his counsel hinted that he had been deceived and betrayed by a friend.

Now, to my knowledge, he and Ransford were the closest of friends--in the old days, before Brake married our governess.

And I suppose the friendship continued--certainly Ransford acted as best man at the wedding! But how account for that strange double disappearance ?" Bryce had already accounted for that, in his own secret mind.

And now, having got all that he wanted out of the old clergyman, he rose to take his leave.
"You will regard this interview as having been of a strictly private nature, Mr.Gilwaters ?" he said.
"Certainly!" responded the old man.