night of Morstan's arrival he came straight over here to claim
his share. He walked over from the station, and was admitted by
my faithful Lal Chowdar, who is now dead. Morstan and I had a
difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure, and we
came to heated words. Morstan had sprung out of his chair in a
paroxysm of anger, when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side,
his face turned a dusky hue, and he fell backwards, cutting his
head against the corner of the treasure-chest. When I stooped
over him I found, to my horror, that he was dead.

"'For a long time I sat half distracted, wondering what I should
do. My first impulse was, of course, to call for assistance; but
I could not but recognize that there was every chance that I
would be accused of his murder. His death at the moment of a
quarrel, and the gash in his head, would be black against me.
Again, an official inquiry could not be made without bringing out
some facts about the treasure, which I was particularly anxious
to keep secret. He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where
he had gone. There seemed to be no necessity why any soul ever
should know.

"'I was still pondering over the matter, when, looking up, I saw
my servant, Lal Chowdar, in the doorway. He stole in and bolted
the door behind him. "Do not fear, Sahib," he said. "No one
need know that you have killed him. Let us hide him away, and
who is the wiser?" "I did not kill him," said I. Lal Chowdar
shook his head and smiled. "I heard it all, Sahib," said he. "I
heard you quarrel, and I heard the blow. But my lips are sealed.
All are asleep in the house. Let us put him away together."
That was enough to decide me. If my own servant could not