'You have--and you know it. I've felt that there was something at the back, and now I begin to have a glimmer of an idea of what it is. You have persistently refused to tell me what were the circumstances under which you first saw Leonard. I'm sorry to say that I'm beginning to believe that it was because, for reasons of your own, you wished to conceal your knowledge of the fact that he was Babbacombe.' 'Reggie, if you take my serious advice, you will restrain yourself from making any further remarks until we are alone. You are not behaving wisely.' 'Wisely? Thank you; there's a sort of wisdom which I would rather be without. Let me tell you this. I do not intend to allow this doubt to confront me a moment longer than I can help. There is one step which I can take towards its solution, and that step I'll take at once. I'll have the coffin opened, and I'll see who is inside.' 'What?' 'I say I'll have the coffin opened and see who is inside.' 'You--you'll do nothing of the kind.' Dr. Clinton asked a question. 'Can you do that at once? Won't the legal forms which you have to go through before you can obtain permission involve considerable delay?' 'I'll do it first and obtain permission afterwards. The coffin is on a shelf in our mausoleum at Cressland. I only have to remove the lid and put it back again. The whole thing needn't occupy half an hour.' 'Reggie, you--you shan't do it.' 'I shall; and will.' 'I say you shall not. Come, don't--don't let us quarrel. This sort of thing in public isn't--isn't edifying. And--all about nothing. When you have heard what I have to say to you in private, you will see the matter in a different light.' 'Say what you have to say to me here.' 'I will not. You must wait till we're alone. Wait, I say--wait!' 'Very good. I will. I'll have the coffin opened to-morrow, and wait till afterwards to hear what it is you have to say.' 'Reggie! You won't! I know you won't. You won't be such a fool.' 'What are you afraid of?' 'Afraid? I'm afraid of nothing. Of what should I be afraid?' 'Then why should you object?' 'Because--it's a dreadful thing to think of, after he's been dead so long.' 'Is that the only reason?' 'What other reason should I have?' I went and held the young gentleman by his arm with both my hands. 'Open the coffin!' 'I intend to.' 'My husband is not inside.' 'How do you know?' 'If he were inside, why should I hear him calling?' 'Calling? What do you mean?' 'I keep hearing him calling to me all the time.' Mr. Howarth flung himself at me, seeming half beside himself with rage. 'It's a lie! You don't!' 'I do. You hear him too.' I never saw a man behave so wildly. He seemed to have all at once gone mad.