Very gray and stern did Mr. Thornton look, as he passed out

through his wondering clerks. He was away about half an hour; and

scarcely less stern did he look when he returned, although his

errand had been successful.

He wrote two lines on a slip of paper, put it in an envelope, and

sealed it up. This he gave to one of the clerks, saying:-'I appointed Watson--he who was a packer in the warehouse, and

who went into the police--to call on me at four o'clock. I have

just met with a gentleman from Liverpool who wishes to see me

before he leaves town. Take care to give this note to Watson he

calls.' The note contained these words: 'There will be no inquest. Medical evidence not sufficient to

justify it. Take no further steps. I have not seen the corner;

but I will take the responsibility.' 'Well,' thought Watson, 'it relieves me from an awkward job. None

of my witnesses seemed certain of anything except the young

woman. She was clear and distinct enough; the porter at the

rail-road had seen a scuffle; or when he found it was likely to

bring him in as a witness, then it might not have been a scuffle,

only a little larking, and Leonards might have jumped off the

platform himself;--he would not stick firm to anything. And

Jennings, the grocer's shopman,--well, he was not quite so bad,

but I doubt if I could have got him up to an oath after he heard

that Miss Hale flatly denied it. It would have been a troublesome

job and no satisfaction. And now I must go and tell them they

won't be wanted.' He accordingly presented himself again at Mr. Hale's that

evening. Her father and Dixon would fain have persuaded Margaret

to go to bed; but they, neither of them, knew the reason for her

low continued refusals to do so. Dixon had learnt part of the

truth-but only part. Margaret would not tell any human being of

what she had said, and she did not reveal the fatal termination

to Leonards' fall from the platform. So Dixon curiosity combined

with her allegiance to urge Margaret to go to rest, which her

appearance, as she lay on the sofa, showed but too clearly that

she required. She did not speak except when spoken to; she tried

to smile back in reply to her father's anxious looks and words of

tender enquiry; but, instead of a smile, the wan lips resolved

themselves into a sigh. He was so miserably uneasy that, at last,

she consented to go into her own room, and prepare for going to

bed. She was indeed inclined to give up the idea that the

inspector would call again that night, as it was already past

nine o'clock.




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