"Alan," said Sophy, after a pause, "do you believe the man who took my father's body killed Dr. Warrender?" "I do. Warrender was out on that night, and might have come across the man carrying away the body, and the murder might have arisen out of that." "How do you know Dr. Warrender was out?" cross-examined Sophy. "Mrs. Warrender told the Rector so. Warrender went to see the Quiet Gentleman, but not finding him in, said that he would return. He never did, and now we know the reason." "Why don't you make certain whether he saw the Quiet Gentleman?" "Brown? That's impossible; he also has disappeared." "Who was he?" "I don't know," said Alan gloomily. "Does any one know?" "Not to my knowledge. Perhaps the police may find out. Sophy, what is the matter?" For the girl was clapping her hands and laughing hysterically. "It was Brown who took my father's body and killed the doctor!" she cried. "I am certain of it!" "Why are you certain?" "I feel it. I can't say why." "But your father did not know this man. I never heard him allude to the Quiet Gentleman." "I dare say not," returned Sophy doggedly; "but if the man had nothing to do with it, why should he disappear? And Dr. Warrender went to see him. Oh! I am sure he is the guilty person. He might be an enemy of father's." "Sophia, your father did not know him," put in Miss Vicky, who was listening open-mouthed to all this. "Oh, I am not so sure of that!" cried the girl impatiently. "If he did, Joe will know. Ring the bell for him." "Did Joe know the Quiet Gentleman?" Alan asked when he had rung. "I do not think that Joseph did," said Miss Vicky. "He told me that he tried several times to speak to him, but got no reply." "I don't wonder at that," replied the young man dryly; "the man was dumb." "Dumb!" echoed the ladies. "Didn't you know? Ah, well, perhaps not. I didn't know myself until the Rector told me last night. Yes, he was dumb--that was why the village called him the Quiet Gentleman. Oh, here is Joe!" "Joe," said Sophy, going directly to the point, "have you heard about----" "Yes, miss," said Joe, interrupting to save her mentioning so painful a subject, "I know, and if I find the swab as did it, I'll kill him." Joe said this in a quietly savage way, which made Miss Vicky shudder. "Have you any idea who carried off the body, Joe?" "No, sir, I have not--but," added the man grimly, "I'm going to look for him." The old maid shuddered again at the expression in his bloodshot eyes. "'Vengeance is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord,'" she put in severely. "All werry good," said Mr. Brill, "but I guess the Lord needs an instrument to carry out that text." He spat on his hands and added slowly, "I'm that instrument!" "Had my father any enemies that you know of, Joe?" "No, miss, not that I knowed of. He had rows, as a man should, had the Cap'n, but I don't know any swab as 'ud have stolen his corpse." "And murdered Dr. Warrender," said Alan, who was watching the man.