yourself to be acting as a friend of this bereaved family. You
regard me, perhaps, as a Paul Pry prompted by idle curiosity. On
the contrary, I find myself in a delicate and embarrassing
situation. From Sir Charles's conversation I had gathered that he
entertained certain fears on behalf of his daughter."

"Indeed," said Doctor McMurdoch.

"If these fears were well grounded, the danger is not removed,
but merely increased by the death of Miss Abingdon's natural
protector. I regret, sir, that I approached you for information,
since you have misjudged my motive. But far from my interest
having ceased, it has now as I see the matter become a sacred
duty to learn what it was that Sir Charles apprehended. This
duty, Doctor McMurdoch, I propose to fulfil with or without your
assistance."

"Oh," said Doctor McMurdoch, gloomily, "I'm afraid I've offended
you. But I meant well, Mr. Harley." A faint trace of human
emotion showed itself in his deep voice. "Charley Abingdon and I
were students together in Edinburgh," he explained. "I was mayhap
a little strange."

His apology was so evidently sincere that Harley relented at
once. "Please say no more, Doctor McMurdoch," he responded. "I
fully appreciate your feelings in the matter. At such a time a
stranger can only be an intruder; but"--he fixed his keen eyes
upon the physician--"there is more underlying all this than you
suspect or could readily believe. You will live to know that I
have spoken the truth."