The house was in a state of subdued excitement. Servants spoke in whispers and tiptoed through the halls. Nurses and other doctors came. Two old men, shaking as with palsy, roamed about the place, intent only on worming their way into the presence of their friend and supporter to offer consolation and encouragement to him in his hour of tribulation. They shuddered as they looked into each other's faces, and they shook their heads without speaking, for their minds were filled with doubt. They did not question the truth of the story as told, but they had their own opinions. In support of the theory that they did not believe there was anything accidental in the shooting of Frederic it is only necessary to speak of their extraordinary attitude toward Ranjab. They shook hands with him and told him that Allah would reward him. Later on, after they had had time to think it all out for themselves, being somewhat slow of comprehension, they sought out James Brood and offered to accept all the blame for having loaded the revolver without consulting him, their object having been to destroy a cat that infested the alley hard by. They felt that it was absolutely necessary to account for the presence of the unexploded cartridge. “As a matter of fact, Jim, old man,” insisted Mr Riggs, “I am entirely to blame for the whole business. I ought to have had more sense than to leave a shell in------” “You had nothing to do with it,” said Mr Dawes fiercely. “It was I who loaded the devilish thing, and I'm going to confess to the police. To be perfectly honest about it, I sort of recollect cocking it before I hung it up on the nail. I sort of recollect it, I say, and that's more than you can do. No, sir, Jim; I'm the one to blame. I ought to be shot for my carelessness. It was------” “There's no sense in your lying at a time like this,” said Mr Riggs caustically, glaring at his lifelong friend. “I suppose it's because he can't help it, Jim. Lying has got to be such a habit with him that------” “Well,” interrupted Mr Dawes vigorously, “to show you that I am not lying, I intend to give myself up to the police and take the full penalty for criminal and contributory negligence. I suppose you'll still say I'm lying after they've sent me to jail for a couple of years for------” “Yes, sir; I will,” said Mr Riggs with conviction. “And I shall have you arrested for perjury if you try any of your tricks on me. I loaded it, I cocked sir; I will,” said Mr Riggs with conviction. “And I suppose you fired it off!” exclaimed Mr Dawes savagely. Mr Riggs took a long breath. “Yes, sir, you scoundrel, I am ready to swear that I _did_ fire it off!” They glared at each other with such ferocity that Brood, coming between them, laid his hands on their shoulders, shaking his head as he spoke to them gently.