"Must I answer that?"

"Yes; I think so; as I must have a clear understanding of the
whole affair."

"Well, then, he told me that he had no objection to Mr. Hall,
personally. But he wished me to make what he called a more
brilliant alliance. He wanted me to marry a man of greater
wealth and social position."

The scorn in Miss Lloyd's voice for her uncle's ambitions was so
unmistakable that it made her whole answer seem a compliment to
Mr. Hall, rather than the reverse. It implied that the sterling
worth of the young secretary was far more to be desired than the
riches and rank advocated by her uncle. This time Gregory Hall
looked at the speaker with a faint smile, that showed
appreciation, if not adoration.

But I did not gather from his attitude that he did not adore his
beautiful bride-to-be; I only concluded that he was not one to
show his feelings in public.

However, I couldn't help feeling that I had learned which of the
two was more anxious for the engagement to continue.

"In what way was your uncle more definite in his threat last
night, than he had been heretofore?" the coroner continued.

Miss Lloyd gave a little gasp, as if the question she had been