"I can only conclude one thing," replied Hilliston, with great deliberation, "that your father, suspicious of Jeringham, returned on that night from London, and saw the parting. The result is not difficult to foresee. It is my own opinion that there were words between the men, possibly a struggle, and that the matter ended in the murder of your father by Jeringham. Hence the discovery of the body thrown into the river, hence the flight of the murderer." "Was this the generally received opinion at the time?" "Yes. I can safely say that it was believed Jeringham was guilty, and had fled to escape the consequences of his crime." "In that case, how was it that Mrs. Larcher was arrested?" asked Tait skeptically. "You cannot have read the case carefully, to ask me that," replied Hilliston sharply. "She was arrested on the evidence of the dagger. Without doubt the crime was committed with the dagger, and as she had worn it, the inference was drawn that she was the guilty person. But she was acquitted, and left the court--as the saying is--without a stain on her character." "Nevertheless she died, Mr. Hilliston." "Shame killed her," said the lawyer sadly. "She was a foolish woman in many ways,--your pardon, Claude, for so speaking,--but she was not the woman to commit so foul a crime. Indeed, I believe she was fondly attached to her husband till Jeringham came between them." "Ah!" interposed Tait composedly, "that is John Parver's view." "John Parver?" repeated Hilliston, with well-bred surprise. "I do not know that name in connection with the case." "Nor do we know the name of Mrs. Bezel," said Claude quickly. Hilliston started, and looked at Claude as though he would read his very soul. The inscrutability of the young man's countenance baffled him, and he turned off the remark with a dry laugh. "With Mrs. Bezel we will deal hereafter," he said shortly; "but who is this John Parver!" "He is the author of a book called 'A Whim of Fate.'" "A novel?" "Yes. A novel which embodies the whole of this case." "That is strange," said Hilliston quietly, "but no doubt the author has come across the details in some old provincial journal, and made use of them. The Larcher affair caused a great deal of talk at the time, but it is certainly remarkable that a novelist should have made use of it for fictional purposes after the lapse of so many years. I must read the book. Just note the name of it here, Mr. Tait, if you please." Tait did so, and Hilliston continued: "Is my character in the book?" "I think so. Under the name of Michael Dene!" "I trust the author has been flattering to me. By the way, who does he say committed the crime?" "Michael Dene." Hilliston went gray on the instant, as though a sudden blow had been struck at his heart. Two pairs of keen eyes were fixed on his face with some surprise, and uneasy at the scrutiny, he strove to recover his composure.