"Nothing. I only know it is a provincial town set in beautiful scenery. I thought you might wish to try a change from the fashionable seaside place." "I might go there if it is pretty," answered Mrs. Hilliston, who was now perfectly composed. "Where is Horriston?" "In Kent," interposed Hilliston quickly, "not very far from Canterbury. I have been there myself, but as it is a rather dull neighborhood, I would not advise you to try it." Despite her denial Claude felt certain that Mrs. Hilliston was acquainted with Horriston, for on the plea of indisposition she left the table before the dinner was ended. As she passed through the door she playfully tipped Claude on the shoulder with her fan. "Don't forget to come and see us at Eastbourne," she said vivaciously, "and bring Mr. Tait with you. He is a great favorite of mine." This Claude promised to do, and, when she left the room, returned to his seat with a rather puzzled expression on his face. Hilliston saw the look, and endeavored to banish it by a hasty explanation. "You rather startled my wife by mentioning Horriston," he said, in an annoyed tone. "I wish you had not done so. As it is connected with the case she naturally feels an antipathy toward it." "What! Does Mrs. Hilliston know about my father's death?" asked Claude, in some surprise. "Yes. When we married, she wanted to know why you lived in the house with me, so I was forced to explain all the circumstances." "Do you think that was necessary?" "I do. You know how suspicious women are," replied Hilliston lightly; "they will know the truth. But you can trust to her discretion, Claude. No one will hear of it from her." At this moment a footman entered the room with a message from Mrs. Hilliston. "My mistress wants to know if you have the third volume of 'A Whim of Fate,' sir?" said the servant. "No," replied Hilliston sharply. "Tell your mistress that I took it to my office by mistake. She will have it to-morrow." Claude thought this strange, and when the footman retired Hilliston made another explanation equally as unsatisfactory as the first. "I am so interested in that book that I could not leave it at home," he said quickly; "and now that I have met the author I am doubly interested in it." Another proof of Tait's acumen. Hilliston was the first to introduce the subject of John Parver. CHAPTER XVIII. A DUEL OF WORDS. A LONGISH pause ensued between the two men. Hilliston seemed to be in no hurry to continue the conversation, and Claude, with his eyes fixed absently on his glass, pondered over the facts that Mrs. Hilliston had an aversion to Horriston, and that the lawyer had taken the third volume of the novel out of the house. The two facts seemed to have some connection with each other, but what the connection might be Claude could not rightly conclude.