"There are two facts," he resumed, "which are perhaps of interest. But I would premise that they are in no way connected. I would have you bear that in mind, Mr. Buckler. The first is this: it has never been disclosed whence the information came which led to the discovery of the fugitives. Sir Julian, as I told you, used great precautions. His loyalty, moreover, had never been suspected up till then." "From his servants, most like," I interposed. "Most like!" he sneered. "The remark does scanty credit to your perspicacity, and hardly flatters me. I examined them with some care, and satisfied myself on the score of their devotion to their master. 'Tis doubtful even whether they were aware of Sir Julian's folly. 'Tis most certain that they never betrayed him. Besides, my lord Jeffries rated them all most unmercifully this afternoon. He would not have done that had they helped the prosecution. No, the secret must have leaked out if the information had come from them." "And you could gather no clue?" "Say, rather, that I did gather no clue. For my client forbad me to pursue my inquiries. 'Tis strange that, eh? 'Tis passing strange. It points, I think, beyond the servants." "Then Julian himself must know," I cried. "Tis a simple thought," said he. "If you will pardon the hint, you discover what is obvious with a singular freshness." I understood that I had brought the rejoinder upon myself by my interruption, and so digested it in silence. "The second point," he continued, "is interesting as a----" he made the slightest possible pause--"a coincidence. Sir Julian Harnwood was arrested at six o'clock in the morning, not in his house, but something like a mile away, on the King's down. 'Tis a quaint fancy for a gentleman to take it into his head to stroll about the King's down in the rain at six o'clock of the morning; almost as quaint as for an officer to go thither at that hour to search for him." An idea sprang through my mind, and was up to the tip of my tongue. But I remembered the fate of my previous suggestions, and checked it on the verge of utterance. "You were about to proffer a remark," said Mr. Vincott very politely. "No!" said I, in a tone of indifference, and he smiled. Then his manner changed, and he began to speak quickly, rapping with his fist upon the table as though to drive home his words. "The truth of the matter is, Mr. Buckler, Sir Julian went out that morning to fight a duel, and his antagonist was Count Lukstein, who came over to England six months ago in the train of the Emperor Leopold's ambassador. Ah! you know him!" "No!" I replied. "I know of him from Julian." "They were friends, it appears." "Julian made the Count's acquaintance some while ago in Paris, and has, I believe, visited his home in the Tyrol."