"I saw in a paper the other day that your book was an impossible one--that nothing analogous to its story ever happened in real life." "Several critics have said that," replied Linton, growing angry, and thereby losing his caution, "but they are wrong, as I could prove did I choose to do so." "What!" said Claude, in feigned astonishment. "Did you take the incident from real life?" "The tale is founded on an incident from real life," answered Linton, flushing. "That is, Miss Paynton told me of a certain crime which was actually committed, and on her hint I worked out the story." "Oh, Miss Paynton told you," said Tait smoothly; "and where did she see the account of this crime?" "Ah, that I cannot tell you," replied Linton frankly. "She related the history of this crime, and refused to let me know whence she obtained it. I thought the idea a good one, and so wrote the novel." "Why don't you tell this to the world, and so confound the critics?" "I do! I have told several people. For instance, I told a gentleman about it this very evening, just because he made the same remark as Mr. Larcher did." Tait drew a long breath, and stole a look at Claude. That young man had changed color and gave utterance to the first idea that entered his mind. "Was it Mr. Hilliston who made the remark?" "Hilliston! Hilliston!" said Linton thoughtfully. "Yes, I believe that was the man. A tall old gentleman, very fresh-colored. He was greatly interested in my literary work." "Who could help being interested in so clever a book?" said Claude, in a meaning tone. "But Mr. Hilliston is a lawyer, and I suppose you do not like members of that profession." "Now, why should you say that?" demanded Linton, rather taken aback by this perspicacity. "Well, for one thing you admit a dislike for the law, and for another you make Michael Dene, the solicitor, commit the crime in 'A Whim of Fate.'" "Oh, I only did that as he was the least likely person to be suspected," said the author easily. "Jenny--that is, Miss Paynton--wanted me to make Markham commit the crime." "Markham is Jeringham," murmured Tait, under his breath. "Who committed the crime in the actual case?" he added aloud. "No one knows," answered Linton, shrugging his shoulders. "The case as related to me was a mystery. I solved it after my own fashion." "In the third volume you trace the assassin by means of a breastpin belonging to Michael Dene," said Claude, again in favor. "Is that fact or fiction?" "Fiction! Miss Paynton invented the idea. She said that as the dagger inculpated the woman the breastpin found on the banks of the river would lead to the detection of the man. And, as I worked it out, the idea was a good one." "Ah!" murmured Tait to himself, "I wonder if Mr. Hilliston had anything to do with a breastpin."