an intimation soon afterwards made by Dr. Archer threw startling light.  That gentleman, conjointly with Mr. Smith, requested an immediate interview with Captain Everett, and Mr. Hardyman, the deceased lady’s land-steward and solicitor, who happened to be in the house at the time.  The request was of course complied with, and Dr. Archer at once bluntly stated that, in his opinion, poison had been administered to the deceased lady, though of what precise kind he was somewhat at a loss to conjecture—­opium essentially, he thought, though certainly not in any of its ordinary preparations—­one of the alkaloids probably which chemical science had recently discovered.  Be this as it may, a post-mortem examination of the body would clear up all doubts, and should take place as speedily as possible.  Captain Everett at once acceded to Dr. Archer’s proposal, at the same time observing that he was quite sure the result would entirely disprove that gentleman’s assumption.  Mr. Hardyman also fully concurred in the necessity of a rigid investigation; and the post-mortem examination should, it was arranged, take place early on the following morning.

“I have another and very painful duty to perform,” continued Dr. Archer, addressing Captain Everett.  “I find that your son, Mr. Frederick Everett, alone administered medicine and aliment to Mrs. Fitzhugh during her illness.  Strange, possibly wholly frenzied expressions, but which sounded vastly like cries of remorse, irrepressible by a person unused to crime, escaped him in my hearing just after the close of the final scene; and—­But perhaps, Captain Everett, you had better retire:  this is scarcely a subject”—­

“Go on, sir,” said the captain, over whose countenance a strange expression—­to use Dr. Archer’s own words—­had flashed; “go on:  I am better now.”

“We all know,” resumed Dr. Archer, “how greatly Mr. Frederick Everett gains in wealth by his aunt’s death; and that her decease, moreover, will enable him to conclude the marriage to which she was so determinedly opposed.  I think, therefore, that, under all the circumstances, we shall be fully justified in placing the young gentleman under such—­I will not say custody, but surveillance as will prevent him either from leaving the house, should he imagine himself suspected, or of destroying any evidence which may possibly exist of his guilt, if indeed he be guilty.”

“I entirely agree with you, Dr. Archer,” exclaimed Mr. Hardyman, who had listened with much excitement to the doctor’s narrative; “and will, upon my own responsibility, take the necessary steps for effecting the object you have in view.”

“Gentlemen,” said Captain Everett, rising from his chair, “you will of course do your duty; but I can take no part, nor offer any counsel, in such a case; I must leave you to your own devices.”  He then left the apartment.

He had been gone but a few minutes, when Frederick Everett, still in a state of terrible excitement, entered the room, strode fiercely up to Dr. Archer, and demanded how he dared propose, as the butler had just informed him he had done, a dissection of his aunt’s body.