For a moment I thought there were others on the terrace beside myself, and turned round expecting to see Miss Maltravers returned; but we were still alone.

I even fancied that just as Sir John spoke his last words I felt something brush swiftly by me.

He put up his hands, beating the air with a most painful gesture, as though he were trying to keep off an antagonist who had gripped him by the throat, and made a final struggle to speak.

But the spasm was too strong for him; a dreadful stillness followed, and he was gone.
There is little more to add; for Sir John's guilty secret, perished with him.

Though I was sure from his manner that the missing leaves were concealed somewhere at Worth, and though as executor I caused the most diligent search to be made, no trace of them was afterwards found; nor did any circumstance ever transpire to fling further light upon the matter.