"What the devil are you talking about?" cried Cyril roughly. "I was in London at eight o'clock on that night, and went to Paris the next morning. I never heard of the murder, as I saw no newspapers. When I returned last night I read the account of the inquest in the evening papers, and I came down this morning to comfort you. I really think trouble has turned your head, Bella." The girl stared at him in astonishment. Even though she had spoken so very plainly, Cyril did not seem to comprehend that she was accusing him of having committed a dastardly crime. Her heart suddenly grew light. Perhaps, after all, she was mistaken, and--and--"You can prove your innocence?" "My innocence of what, in heaven's name?" he cried angrily. "Of--of--the--the--murder," she faltered. Lister stared, and scarcely could believe his ears. "You are not serious?" "Oh, my dear:" she sobbed, "I wish I were not." "And you accuse me of murdering your father?" "No, no! Really, I don't accuse you of actually--that is, of really--but I saw you enter this house at eight o'clock, or a little after, on that night. I intended to come down, thinking you and my father might quarrel, but I drank the tea--you must have seen about the tea at the inquest--that is, in the report given in the papers. Then I fell asleep, and woke to hear that my father was dead. But I never betrayed you, Cyril. God is my witness that I have held my tongue." Lister passed his hand across his forehead, and fell helplessly into a near chair. "You accuse me of murdering your father?" he said again. "No, no;" she repeated feverishly, "but I saw you--you looked up--you wore the grey clothes, as you had done in the afternoon when father interrupted us." "Bella! Bella! You must have been dreaming, or the drug----" "I was not dreaming," she interrupted vehemently, "and I saw you before I drank the drugged tea. I called to you, and you looked up; but you entered the house without making any sign of recognition. Then I fell asleep, and--and--oh,--my dear"--she flung herself down at his feet and seized his hand. "What took place between my father and you? I'm sure you did not kill him. I am quite sure of that, and, remember, I held my tongue. Yes, I held----" "Oh," groaned the young man, looking down into her agitated face. "I am losing my reason. You will shortly persuade me that I killed----" "But you did not--you did not. Ah, never say that you did." "No," said Lister shortly, and rose so suddenly as to let her fall, "and if you believe me to be a murderer, we had better part." "I don't! I don't!" she wailed, stretching out her hands, as he strode towards the door. "Oh, Cyril, don't leave me. You are all I have."