"I think very decidedly that no one need ever hear or think any more of that part of it," was his reassuring reply. "I can put it all together pretty well, if it is any satisfaction to you for me to say so. And your father is content to ask you no more than the fact of certain knowledge having come to you that was not intended for you, and, after all, `all's well that ends well,'" and here he smiled. "Then it has or is going to end well?" I said eagerly. At my words he grew grave again. "Yes," he replied, "though," he hesitated a moment, "I don't want to seem heartless, and death is always awe-inspiring, especially in such circumstances as we have just seen it--your father and I, I mean." "Then he _is_ dead?" I said breathlessly. "That unhappy man, Ernest Fitzmaurice?" Clarence bent his head. "An hour or two after I saw him," he replied, "he died. But--truly repentant." I felt shocked, and for a moment or two we did not speak. Then "I am so glad you were in time to be with father," I said. "Thank you," he replied. "I think I was of use to him, though he had done excellently. Got the deposition fully drawn out, signed and witnessed, so that there was scarcely anything for me to do at Liverpool, and therefore, armed with my full credentials, I hurried off to Millflowers, where _my_ father met me. But as to this part of it, Mr Fitzmaurice and I must tell it to you together, more at leisure," for just then the servant came into the room with the breakfast trays. "Only one word," I said eagerly. "It went off well? And that poor Caryll?" "Wonderfully well. You would scarcely believe how wise and tender my father was." Dad joined us at breakfast, declaring he was not tired at all, and as soon as it was over, we three adjoined to his own den, where I learnt for the first time the details of the Grim House mystery. Perhaps it will be best that I should give it in simple narrative style, though, as can readily be imagined, the story related to me was not uninterrupted by a good many questions on my aide. These were the facts:--