I had to wait that morning on especial business on the commissioner; and after the business upon which I had been summoned had been despatched, I related the case of Grey _versus_ Gates as clearly and succinctly as I could. He listened with great attention, and in about a quarter of an hour I left him with as clear and unmistakable a path before me as it was possible to desire. I was passing down the stairs when I was resummoned. "You quite understand, Waters, that Skelton is not for a moment to be lost sight of till his deposition has been taken?" "Certainly, sir." "That will do then." Arrived at home, I despatched my wife in a cab for Mrs. Grey. She soon arrived, and as much as was necessary of our plan I confided to her. Mr. Gates had pressed her earnestly that the ceremony should take place on the following morning. By my directions she now wrote, although her trembling fingers made an almost unintelligible scrawl of it, that as it _was_ to be, she agreed to his proposition, and should expect him at nine o'clock. Two hours afterwards, Jackson and I, having previously watched the gentleman home, knocked at Mr. Skelton's house, Knightsbridge, and requested to see him. At the very moment, he came out of a side-room, and was proceeding up stairs. "Mr. Skelton," said I, stepping forward, "I must have a private interview with you!" He was in an instant as pale as a corpse, and shaking like an aspen--such miserable cowards does an evil conscience make men--and totteringly led the way, without speaking, to a small library. "You know me, Mr. Skelton, and doubtless guess the meaning of my errand?" He stammered out a denial, which his trembling accents and ashy countenance emphatically denied. "You and Gates of the Minories are engaged in a felonious conspiracy to deprive Mrs. Grey and her infant son of their property and inheritance!" Had he been struck by a cannon-shot, he could not have fallen more suddenly and helplessly upon the couch close to which he was standing. "My God!" he exclaimed, "what is this?" Perceiving he was quite sufficiently frightened, I said, "There is no wish on Mrs. Grey's part to treat you harshly, so that you aid us in convicting Gates. For this purpose, you must at once give the numbers of the notes Gates obtained for the cheque, and also the letter in which the agent at Bombay announced its transmission through Gates." "Yes--yes!" he stammered, rising, and going to a secrétaire. "There is the letter." I glanced over it. "I am glad to find," I said, "that you did not know by this letter that the money and other articles here enumerated had been sent by the dying husband to his wife through Gates." "I most solemnly assure you I did not!" he eagerly replied, 'until--until"---- "Mr. Gates informed you of it, and seduced you to conspire with him. He has been playing a double game. Whilst amusing you, he purposes marrying Mrs. Grey to-morrow morning!" "Is it possible? But I suspected"----