"My own property!"

"Had you been there before, on any errand of that sort?"

"Only once."

"When was that?"

"Last week," answered Lauriston. "I pawned my watch there."

"You have, in fact, been short of money?"

"Yes. But only temporarily--I was expecting money."

"I hope it has since arrived," said the Coroner.

"Mr. Ayscough was with me when it did arrive," replied Lauriston, glancing
at the detective. "We found it--two letters--at my lodgings when he walked
round there with me after what I have just told you of."

"You had done your business on that previous occasion with the grand-
daughter?" asked the Coroner. "You had not seen the old man, then?"

"I never to my knowledge saw Mr. Multenius till I found him lying dead in
his own parlour," answered Lauriston.

The Coroner turned from the witness, and glanced towards the table at
which Mr. Parminter and the police officials sat. And Mr. Parminter slowly
rose and looked at Lauriston, and put his first question--in a quiet,