‘It is absolutely necessary, Mr Walcheren,’ replied the coroner, ‘the husband’s testimony may prove the most important of all. I cannot, in the pursuit of my duty, excuse the presence of your cousin. Call Mr Frederick Walcheren.’ And all eyes were turned eagerly towards the door, to watch the advent of the greatest sufferer of all by this most hapless adventure. END OF VOL. I. COLSTON AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. * * * * * Transcriber's note Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. The following Printer errors have been changed: CHANGED FROM TO Page 2: “by-and-bye” “by-and-by” Page 21: “dinner-time” “dinner time” Page 21: “half-an-hour” “half an hour” Page 40 “unbrella” “umbrella” Page 47: “anyone of the other” “any one of the other” Page 49: “spend-thrift” “spendthrift” Page 56: “Well, really, father” “Well, really, Father” Page 57: “liason” “liaison” Page 61: “six thirty” “six-thirty” Page 67: “promise not see” “promise not to see” Page 78: “prententions” “pretensions” Page 80: “Brunnel” “Brunell” Page 95: “think off” “think of” Page 111: “Your’s” “Yours” Page 132: “remains of breakfast was” “remains of the breakfast were” Page 138: “paralysed us us” “paralysed us” Page 155: “half-an-hour” “half an hour” Page 161: “he begun” “he began” Page 169: “out of her’s” “out of hers” Page 202: “chosing his words” “choosing his words” Page 210: “ividly white” “vividly white” Page 210: “s probably something” “is probably something” Page 227: “if the effect” “If the effect” Page 228: “Proctor” “Procter” Page 232: “Proctor” “Procter” Page 238: “of hs” “of his” All other inconsistencies are as in the original.