‘Yes, yes; of course I will,’ he answered, quickly, ‘but there is no likelihood of such a thing. Good-bye, I had better be off at once.’ And so he left her. The scene he encountered at ‘The Cedars’ is easier imagined than described. Mr Crampton received him in his library, in the presence of his wife, and sister-in-law, and Dr M‘Coll. The old man looked as if he had suddenly crumpled up. His features were drawn and shrivelled, and his complexion the colour of parchment. His wife was laid face downwards on a couch at the further end of the room, stupefied with the shock of the news they had just heard, whilst Miss Bostock sat by her, silent and motionless, with her hands hanging passively on her lap. No one stirred except the doctor, as Henry Hindes, white and trembling, but with the assumption of being at his ease, entered the room. ‘Well, my dear friend,’ he commenced cheerily, ‘what is it?’ Mr Crampton turned to the doctor, and muttered in a croaking voice, ‘Tell him.’ ‘I have the misfortune to be the bearer of very bad news to Mr and Mrs Crampton, sir,’ said Dr M‘Coll, in obedience to his instructions. ‘Their daughter, Mrs Walcheren, met with a terrible accident on the Dover cliffs yesterday afternoon, and is, in fact--has not recovered the injuries inflicted--is lying at this moment--dead!’ Henry Hindes’ face went crimson instead of pale. ‘Dead, sir!’ he ejaculated slowly, as if he were choosing his words, ‘are you sure she is dead? An accident? How can you tell it was an accident? Might not someone have done it on purpose--have pushed her over?’ Then he paused, as if he thought he had been talking too fast, and repeated his first question: ‘But are you sure that she will not recover? She is very young, you know,’ after which, perceiving the grief of all around him, he broke down, exclaiming, ‘Oh! Jenny dead! Impossible! Impossible! Why, I went to see her only yesterday! She can’t be dead! my dear, dear friend!’ seizing old Crampton’s hand; ‘don’t give way! It is impossible!’ ‘You are only buoying this gentleman up with false hopes, sir,’ said Dr M‘Coll. ‘There is no doubt of the truth of the news, distressing as it may be, and I am commissioned by Mr Walcheren to break it to all whom it may concern. As to your suggestion that it may be due to foul play, there is nothing whatever to point to it, but it will cause the subject of the inquiry at the inquest to-morrow. Your presence will, of course, be necessary, also Mr Crampton’s. I understand, as you say yourself, that you went down to Dover yesterday to see the unfortunate lady, so that your testimony may be valuable to the coroner, and the marriage having been, I am told, a little irregular, there is the more necessity that everything should be made perfectly clear.’ ‘An inquest!’ stammered Hindes. ‘But surely there is no need of our undergoing such a painful ordeal? Why, it will nearly kill Mr Crampton. My dear friend, you must not think of attending it.’