The open door now revealed the figure of the woman he had seen outside.  She advanced into the room.

“Mr. Brimsdown?” she said.

“That is my name,” said the lawyer, eyeing her in some surprise.  He recognized her as the woman who had stared after him when he left Austin Turold’s lodgings, but he could not conjecture the object of her visit.

“I see you do not remember me,” she sadly remarked.

“You are Mrs. Brierly, I think.”

“Yes.  But I was Mary Pleasington before I was married.  I remember you very well, but I suppose that I have changed.”

Mr. Brimsdown recalled the name with a start of surprise.  He found it difficult to recognize, in the faded woman before him, the pretty daughter of his old client, Sir Roger Pleasington, whose debts and lawsuits had been compounded by death ten years before.  He remembered his daughter as a budding beauty, with the airs and graces of a pretty girl who imagines her existence to be of some importance in the world.  He recollected that her marriage to an impecunious young artist had caused some sensation in Society at the time.  Marriage had dealt hardly with her, and no trace of her beauty or vivacity remained.

“You are the late Mr. Turold’s legal adviser?” she continued, after a pause.

Mr. Brimsdown, always chary of unnecessary words, replied with a slight bow.

“I suppose you have come to Cornwall to investigate the cause of his death?”

Mr. Brimsdown remained silent, waiting to hear more.

“I—­I wish to speak to you about that.”  Her lips quivered with some inward agitation.

“Will you not be seated?” he said, placing a chair for her.

“Will you regard what I have to say to you in strict confidence?” she queried, sinking her voice to a whisper.

“Is it about Mr. Turold’s murder?”

“It—­it may be.”

With the recollection of previous eavesdropping in that house, the lawyer rose and closed the door.  “I cannot make a promise of that kind,” he said firmly, as he returned to his seat.

“No, no—­of course not,” she hurriedly acquiesced.  “I was wrong to ask it.  I have come here to tell you.  When I saw you this afternoon I realized that Providence had answered my prayers, and sent somebody in whom I could safely confide.  I will tell you everything.  I have come here for that purpose.”

She seemed to have a difficulty in commencing.  Her pale grey eyes wandered irresolutely from his, and then returned.  It was with a perceptible effort that she spoke at last.

“What I am about to tell you I have known for some days, but I could not bring myself to the extreme step of going to the police.  Sometimes I am inclined to think that it may be only a trifling thing, easily explained, and of no importance.  But sometimes—­at night—­it assumes a terrible significance.  I need counsel—­wise counsel—­about it.”