"Does Sir Thomas Ryder," asked Luke lightly, "also think that I have murdered Philip?" He knew where Colonel Harris had been. Louisa had not thought of keeping this from him. "Tom's a fool!" retorted the colonel involuntarily. It was tantamount to an avowal. Luke never flinched; he even contrived to smile. Louisa sat up very straight, and with an instinctive movement gave the sofa cushions a nervy shake up. But her eyes were fastened on Luke. "Don't worry, sir," said Luke very quietly. "I'll get out of it all in good time." "Of course you will! Damn it all!" ejaculated the other fervently. "The inquest you know is to-morrow." It was Luke who spoke and Colonel Harris looked up quickly. "Then," he said, "surely some light will be thrown on this mysterious business." "Let's hope so, sir," rejoined Luke dryly. "Has Uncle Ryder told you anything fresh, father? Anything that we don't yet know?" Colonel Harris did not reply, and Louisa knew that there was something that Uncle Ryder had said, something awful, which had caused her father to wear the troubled look which had terrified her the moment he came in. Something awful!--which would affect Luke! "Won't you tell us, father," she said, "what Uncle Ryder told you? Luke ought to know." "Oh," rejoined Luke, "there's no hurry I'm sure. Colonel Harris will tell me presently. Lou, you were coming to the park this morning. I suppose we can't go to the Temple Garden Show very well." "Not very well, I think," she replied, "but I'll come for a walk after lunch with pleasure. Father must tell us now what Uncle Ryder said." Then as Colonel Harris still seemed to hesitate, she became more insistent, and her voice more firm. "Father dear," she said, "I must know as well as Luke." The old man took a turn up and down the room, with hands behind his back. He would not look either at Louisa or at Luke, for it would be easier to tell them everything without meeting their eyes. And he had to tell them everything. To her as well as to him. It was no longer any use trying to avoid the subject, pretending that it was trivial, unworthy of discussion. Facts had to be faced at last, like the dervishes at Omdurman, and a plan of campaign decided on in the event of momentary defeat. "Ryder," he began quite abruptly at last, "had the hall porter of that confounded club up to his room while I was there, and questioned him before me." "He could," suggested Luke, "only repeat the story which we all know already. I never denied seeing Philip at the club or quarrelling with him for a matter of that. Hang it all! I have often quarrelled with him before." "Yes," rejoined the colonel, "they've ferreted out the old servants of your uncle's household, and heard innumerable stories of quarrels." "Exaggerated, I expect. But what of it?" "And that hall porter didn't mince matters either. Damn him." "Philip," remarked Luke dryly, "shouted pretty loudly. I did not."