"It wouldn't be much good," said his wife, with a shrug. "We must have a genuine corpse--like you." An inkling of her meaning stole into Jim's dull brain, and he sat down suddenly. "Go on," said he, hoarsely. "Harold Garth is like you." "Where the--what the--you saw him?" "In church yesterday. He's ill with consumption, dying they say. Demetrius attends him. Supposing--supposing"--her imagination made her cheeks flush--"supposing--oh, you understand." The sluggish comprehension of the man grasped her hinted scheme suddenly, and his eyes lighted up. "Supposing he died and was buried in place of me, you mean?" "You don't suppose I mean murder, do you?" she cried, rising to the height of her tall figure and speaking irritably. "You would if there was money in it," said Jim, grimly. "It would be a natural death," went on Leah, rapidly, and pacing the room to relieve the strain on her nerves. "The poor fellow can't live long. If he died, and was buried as----" "No go," contradicted Jim, rising in his turn. "Every one about here knows of the likeness; for which," he added slowly, "there's a reason." "So I learned yesterday from Mrs. Arthur." Jim was indignant. "Do you mean to tell me----?" "I mean to tell you that I gathered the truth from what she left unsaid. You don't suppose that I require words to explain things." "I don't see how it's to be managed," said Kaimes, reflectively. "If it could be, would you surrender everything and----?" "Yes, I would, for a quarter of the money. Then I'd go out of your life an' to Lima----" "Lima," said Lady Jim, stopping suddenly. "Why to Lima? You've been there three times since we married." "No end of a place, Lima," muttered Jim, feebly. His wife looked at his colouring face attentively, and laughed in a short, rasping manner. An idea had occurred to her which she did not think it necessary to impart to Jim. "When you're legally dead," she said sharply, "I shall have no control over your life or movements. All I want to know is, if this business can be managed, will you do your share by disappearing?" "Yes; but I don't see how----" "Read that book, Jim, and you'll understand better. It gave me the idea, though our plot will be different in many ways." "Well," said Jim, tucking the novel under his arm, "I'll dip into it." "Don't let any one see you reading, and replace it in the library without any one knowing." "Why should I?" "You fool," snarled Leah, viciously; "if this thing is to be carried through safely, no suspicion must rest on either of us. Do you suppose that I have spoken to this double of yours, or have let any one know that I have read the book? I don't think it really matters much, as people are too stupid to see things; but it is just as well to be on the safe side." "But I don't see how----" began Kaimes again, and again she cut him short. "I do--I do. Demetrius attends this young fellow." "Oh, and he--Demetrius, I mean----"