wish to frighten her.

"Yes, I do remember him." This she said after a considerable pause.
"But it is a very long time ago, you know, Mr. Pendrergrass."

"A very long time. But I am sure you do remember. You lived in the
house, you know, for some months."

"Yes, I did. He was my master for three months, or thereabouts; and
to tell the truth, I never got my wages for those three months yet.
But that's neither here nor there."

"Do you believe now, Mrs. Jones, that that Mr. Talbot is still
alive?" He asked the question in a very soft voice, and endeavoured
not to startle her by his look as he did so. But it was necessary to
his purpose that he should keep his eye upon her. Half the answer to
his question was to be conveyed by the effect on the muscles of her
face which that question would produce. She might perhaps command
her voice to tell a falsehood, but be unable to command her face to
support it.

"Believe what, sir?" said she, and the lawyer could immediately
perceive that she did believe and probably knew that that man who
had called himself Talbot was still alive.

"Do you believe, Mrs. Jones, that he is alive--her ladyship's
former husband, you know?"

The question was so terrible in its nature, that Mrs. Jones
absolutely shook under it. Did she think that that man was still