"The very place where the poor creature was killed said Laura, with a shudder, which made Mrs. Fane smile. "My dear, what does that matter? Death is death, however it comes, as you ought to know. If a murder took place in every room in the house I should not mind." "Would you like it to take place in the nursery?" asked Laura. Here she touched Mrs. Fane on a raw spot. If there was one thing the self-possessed woman loved it was her little daughter. That she was annoyed showed itself by the slight flush which crimsoned her face. "You shouldn't say such things, my dear," she said in icy tones; "of course I except the nursery. An atmosphere of crime would not be conducive to the health of Minnie. But as I was saying, Walter wishes to give up the house." "You said nothing of the sort," said Laura, irritated. "I say it now, then. Walter wishes to go abroad." "What about the business?" Mrs. Fane raised her perfectly marked eyebrows. "Well, what about it, Laura? You know Walter is often away for weeks yachting. Times and seasons make no difference to him, so far as his love of the sea is concerned. Frederick says"--Frederick Mason was her brother--"that Walter is of very little use in the office." "I wonder he keeps him, then," said Laura. "There is no question of keeping," replied Mrs. Fane serenely; "you speak of Walter as though he were an office-boy. He is a partner, remember, and I do his business for him." "I don't quite understand." "It's very simple, Laura. Walter, as you know, brought very little money into the business. He seems to have spent what he had, or the greater part, in furnishing this house for me." "It was furnished before you and he became engaged." "That is true. But I saw what was coming a long time before Walter asked me to be his wife. He hinted that he was furnishing a house here, and how he was spending money on it. I then knew that he intended to make me his wife, and I determined to accept him. Not that I loved him over much," added Mrs. Fane quietly, "but I was anxious to have a say in the business. Frederick is a fool; and unless the business is looked after, it will go to ruin. As the wife of one of the partners, I am able to take a part in the conduct of the business." "You could have done so without marrying," said Laura. Mrs. Fane shook her head.