You will stay here two or three days."

"No; I must return to L---- to-morrow. I cannot absent myself from
my patients. And it is the more desirable that no time should be lost
before examining the contents of the manuscript, because probably they
may give some clew to the detection of the murderer."

"Why do you think that?" cried Strahan, startled from the drowsiness that
was creeping over him.

"Because the manuscript may show that Sir Philip had some enemy, and who
but an enemy could have had a motive for such a crime? Come, bring forth
the book. You of all men are bound to be alert in every research that may
guide the retribution of justice to the assassin of your benefactor."

"Yes, yes. I will offer a reward of L5,000 for the discovery. Allen,
that wretched old steward had the insolence to tell me that I was the only
man in the world who could have an interest in the death of his master;
and he looked at me as if he thought that I had committed the crime. You
are right; it becomes me, of all men, to be alert. The assassin must be
found. He must hang."

While thus speaking, Strahan had risen, unlocked a desk, which stood on
one of the safes, and drawn forth a thick volume, the contents of which
were protected by a clasp and lock. Strahan proceeded to open this lock
by one of a bunch of keys, which he said had been found on Sir Philip's
person.

"There, Allen, this is the memoir. I need not tell you what store I place
on it,--not, between you and me, that I expect it will warrant poor Sir