The inquest was adjourned, the facts being so few, and Mr. Clissold was taken to Eborsham Castle, a mediæval fortress, which our modern civilization had converted into the county jail. Here he was comfortable enough, so far as surroundings went; for he was a young man of adventurous mind, and tastes so simple that a hard bed and a carpetless room were no afflictions to him. Mr. Brent, the solicitor, visited him in his confinement, and discussed the facts of the case. 'It's hard upon you, both ways,' said the lawyer; 'hard to lose your friend, and still harder to find yourself exposed to this monstrous suspicion.' 'I don't care two straws for the suspicion,' answered Maurice, 'but I do care very much for the loss of my friend. He was one of the best fellows that ever lived—so bright, so brimming over with freshness and vitality. If I had not seen him lying in that tavern, stark and cold, I couldn't bring myself to believe in his death. It's hard to believe in it, even with the memory of that poor murdered clay fresh in my mind. Poor James! I loved him like a younger brother!' 'You have no knowledge of any circumstances in his life that can help us to find the murderer?' asked Mr. Brent. 'I know of nothing. He had picked up some people I didn't care about his being intimate with, strolling players, who are acting at the theatre in this place. But my worst fear was that he might be trapped into some promise of marriage. I can hardly fancy these people concerned in a crime.' 'No. They are for the most part harmless vagabonds,' replied the lawyer. 'Do you know where Mr. Penwyn spent last night?' 'With these people, no doubt—a man called Elgood, and his daughter. The man ought to be called as a witness, I should think.' 'Unquestionably. We'll have him before the coroner next Saturday, and we'll keep an eye upon him meanwhile.' The inquest had been adjourned for three days, to give time for new facts to be elicited. 'Your friend had no enemies, you say?' 'Not one,' answered Clissold. 'He was one of those men who never make an enemy. He hadn't the strength of mind to refuse a favour to the veriest blackguard. It was my knowledge of his character that made me anxious about this Elgood's acquaintance. I saw that he was fascinated by the girl, and feared he might be lured into some false position. That was the sole cause of our dispute the other night.' 'Why did you leave him?' 'Because I saw that my interference irritated him, and was likely to arouse a lurking obstinacy which I knew to be in his nature. He was such a spoiled child of fortune that I fancied if I left him alone to take his own way his passion would cool. Opposition fired him.' 'There is only one awkward circumstance in the whole case—as regards yourself, I mean.' 'What is that?' asked Clissold. 'Your objection to state where you spent last night.' 'I should be sorry if I were driven to so poor a defence as an _alibi_.'