almost convinced him, against his will, against only too
evident facts, that Ransford was hearing of the Paradise
affair for the first time.

"An elderly man--grey-haired--slightly built?" said Ransford.
"Dark clothes--silk hat?"

"Precisely," replied Bryce, who was now considerably
astonished. "Do you know him?"

"I saw such a man entering the Cathedral, a while ago,"
answered Ransford. "A stranger, certainly. Come along,
then."

He had fully recovered his self-possession by that time, and
he led the way from the surgery and across the Close as if he
were going on an ordinary professional visit. He kept silence
as they walked rapidly towards Paradise, and Bryce was silent,
too. He had studied Ransford a good deal during their two
years' acquaintanceship, and he knew Ransford's power of
repressing and commanding his feelings and concealing his
thoughts. And now he decided that the look and start which he
had at first taken to be of the nature of genuine astonishment
were cunningly assumed, and he was not surprised when, having
reached the group of men gathered around the body, Ransford
showed nothing but professional interest.

"Have you done anything towards finding out who this
unfortunate man is?" asked Ransford, after a brief
examination, as he turned to Mitchington. "Evidently a