me that the marriage could not take place."

"Did she give any reason?"

"She declined to do so."

"The same woman," muttered Caranby, "always mysterious and
unsatisfactory. You say her sister is dead?"

Cuthbert cast a look at the Globe, which lay on a small table
near Caranby's elbow. "If you have read the papers, sir--"
"Yes! I have read that Miss Loach has been murdered. You
went down to Rexton to-day. I presume you heard something
more than the details set forth by the press."

Cuthbert nodded. "It appears to be a mystery."

Caranby did not reply, but looked into the fire. "Poor
Selina!" he said half to himself. "A sad end for such a
charming woman."

"I should hardly apply that word to Miss Loach, sir. She did
not appear to be a lady, and was by no means refined."

"She must have changed then. In her young days she and her
sister were the handsomest women in London."

"I believe you were engaged to one of them," said Mallow
politely.