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When he had finished Chloe sat quite still for a ; and neither of theher

At last: "But, Dr Anstice--Tochatti! Why, she has been with me for years--ever since I was a child like Cherry!"

Her voice was so full of incredulity that for a moment both her hearers wondered suddenly how they could have accepted the possibility of Tochatti's guilt so readily But Anstice's common sense reasserted itself immediately; and he knew that the mere fact of Mrs Carstairs' unbelief did not really materially alter theto believe evil of the woman hatever her faults, had served her faithfully; but this was no time for sentimentality; and he replied to Chloe's last speech rather uncoly

"Even the fact that she has been with you for years does not preclude the possibility of her doing this thing," he said "Of course I can understand you would hesitate to believe her capable of such wickedness, but----"

"But why should Tochatti wish to work me harm?" Her blue eyes were full of a kind of hurt wonder "And these last letters directed against you, Dr Anstice--why on earth should she have any spite against you?"

"Dr Anstice tells me she much resented the presence of the hospital nurse in the house," chimed in Sir Richard "Of course she has always been absurdly jealous of any claim to Cherry's affection--even Iris noticed that and used to say she hardly dared to pet the child before Tochatti"

"Yes" Chloe assented reluctantly "That is quite true She has always been jealous; and I confess I once or twice saw her look at Dr Anstice with a--well, ratherjealousy; and judged it best to take no notice"

"Of course all this is very largely conjectural," said Anstice slowly "Such evidence as we have is purely circu a cat But I adht with me; and it is certainly odd that he should have mentioned an Italian as the possible author of the letters when there is a person of that nationality--more or less--in the house"

"Yes I can see that for myself" Chloe's voice was low "But to be quite candid, I don't see hoould be possible to bring the letters hoin with, she can't write"

"Or pretends she can't You must remember, Mrs Carstairs, we have only the woman's oord for that"