"No, sir. She wishes to see you alone, sir." I walked across the big hall and along the corridor to the room the old man had indicated. And as I opened the door and Muriel Leithcourt in plain black rose to meet me, I plainly saw from her white, haggard countenance that something had happened--that she had been forced by circumstances to come to me in strictest confidence. Was she, I wondered, about to reveal to me the truth? CHAPTER VI THE GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS "Mr. Gregg," exclaimed the girl with agitation, as she put forth her black-gloved hand, "I--I suppose you know--you've heard all about the discovery to-day up at the wood? I need not tell you anything about it" "Yes, Miss Leithcourt, I only wish you would tell me about it," I said gravely, inviting her to a chair and seating myself. "I've heard some extraordinary story about a man being found dead, but I've been in Dumfries nearly all day. Who is the man?" "Ah! that we don't know," she replied, pale-faced and anxious. Her attitude was as though she wished to confide in me and yet still hesitated to do so. "You've been waiting for me quite a long time, Davis tells me. I regret that you should have done this. If you had left word that you wished to see me, I would have come over to you at once." "No. I wanted to see you alone--that's the reason I am here. They must not know at home that I've been over here, so I purposely asked the man not to announce me to your aunt." "You want to see me privately," I said in a low, earnest voice. "Why? Is there any service I can render you?" "Yes. A very great one," she responded with quick eagerness, "I--well--the fact is, I have summoned courage to come to you and beg of you to help me. I am in great distress--and I have not a single friend whom I can trust--in whom I can confide." "I shall esteem it the highest honor if you will trust me," I said in deep earnestness. "I can only assure you that I will remain loyal to your interests and to yourself." "Ah! I believe you will, Mr. Gregg!" she declared with enthusiasm, her large, dark eyes turned upon me--the eyes of a woman in sheer and bitter despair. Her face was perfect, one of the most handsome I had ever gazed upon. The more I saw of her the greater was the fascination she held over me. A silence fell between us as she sat with her gloved hands lying idly in her lap. Her lips moved nervously, but no sound came from them, so agitated was she, so eager to tell me something; and yet at the same time reluctant to take me into her confidence. "Well?" I asked at last in a low voice. "I am quite ready to render you any service, if you will only command me." "Ah! But I fear what I require will strike you as so unusual--you will hesitate to act when I explain what service I require of you," she said doubtfully. "I cannot tell you until I hear your wishes," I said, smiling, and yet puzzled at her attitude.