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"You will excuse reat sufferer, and I have long had suspicions as to that valve I ahted to hear that they are unwarranted Had your father, Miss Morstan, refrained froht have been alive now"

I could have struck the man across the face, so hot was I at this callous and off-hand reference to so delicate a rehite to the lips "I knew in ive you every information," said he, "and, what is more, I can do you justice; and I will, too, whatever Brother Barthololad to have your friends here, not only as an escort to you, but also as witnesses to what I am about to do and say The three of us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew But let us have no outsiders,--no police or officials We can settle everything satisfactorily a would annoy Brother Bartholomew more than any publicity" He sat down upon a low settee and blinked at us inquiringly with his weak, watery blue eyes

"For o no further"

I nodded to show reement

"That is well! That is well!" said he "May I offer you a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan? Or of Tokay? I keep no other wines Shall I open a flask? No? Well, then, I trust that you have no objection to tobacco-smoke, to the mild balsamic odor of the Eastern tobacco I am a little nervous, and I find reat bowl, and the sh the rose-water We sat all three in a semicircle, with our heads advanced, and our chins upon our hands, while the strange, jerky little felloith his high, shining head, puffed uneasily in the centre

"When I first deterht have given you ardunpleasant people with you I took the liberty, therefore, of ht be able to see you first I have complete confidence in his discretion, and he had orders, if he were dissatisfied, to proceed no further in the matter You will excuse these precautions, but I aht even say refined, tastes, and there is nothingfroh h crowd I live, as you see, with soance around me I may call myself a patron of the arts It is h a connoisseur ht perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvator Rosa, there cannot be the least question about the Bouguereau I am partial to the modern French school"