cheerful topics than this."

Austin folded the letter methodically, and returned it
to Villiers.

"It is certainly an extraordinary letter," he said,
"what does he mean by the portrait?"

"Ah! I forgot to tell you I have been to Paul Street
and have made a discovery."

Villiers told his story as he had told it to Clarke,
and Austin listened in silence. He seemed puzzled.

"How very curious that you should experience such an
unpleasant sensation in that room!" he said at length. "I
hardly gather that it was a mere matter of the imagination; a
feeling of repulsion, in short."

"No, it was more physical than mental. It was as if I
were inhaling at every breath some deadly fume, which seemed to
penetrate to every nerve and bone and sinew of my body. I felt
racked from head to foot, my eyes began to grow dim; it was like
the entrance of death."

"Yes, yes, very strange certainly. You see, your
friend confesses that there is some very black story connected
with this woman. Did you notice any particular emotion in him
when you were telling your tale?"