“Oh, well, as to Hugh’s character, I don’t think you or I are going to fret ourselves about that,” laughed Mr. Thornton.  “He probably sowed his wild oats with the rest of us, and there may have been some reason for his leaving England as he did.”

“I don’t believe it,” Ralph Mainwaring retorted, angrily; but before he could say more, the doors opened and the coroner’s jury filed into the room.  There was instant silence, and a moment later the verdict had been announced.  It was what every one had expected, and yet there was not one but experienced a feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction.

“We find that the deceased, Hugh Mainwaring, came to his death by the discharge of a revolver in the hands of some person or persons to us unknown.”

CHAPTER X

BEHIND THE SCENES

The crowd dispersed rapidly, passing down the oak-lined avenue in twos and threes, engaged in animated discussion of the details of the inquest, while each one advanced some theory of his own regarding the murder.  Mr. Sutherland had taken his departure after making an appointment with Scott for the following day, and the latter now stood in one of the deep bow-windows engrossed with his own thoughts.  Suspicion had been partially diverted from himself, but only partially, as he well knew, to return like a tidal wave, deepened and intensified by personal animosity, whenever the facts he had thus far so carefully concealed should become known.  He gave little thought to this, however, except as it influenced him in planning his course of action for the next few days.

He was aroused from his revery by the sound of approaching steps, and, turning, met Mr. Whitney.

“Ah, Mr. Scott, I was just looking for you.  I thought possibly you had slipped back to the city with the crowd.  I wanted to say, Mr. Scott, that, if it will be agreeable to you, I wish you would remain at Fair Oaks for the next few days, or weeks, as the case may be.  Mr. Ralph Mainwaring has retained my services to aid in securing his title to the estate, and the will having been destroyed, complications are likely to arise, so that it may take some time to get matters adjusted.  Much of the business will, of necessity, have to be transacted here, as all of Mr. Mainwaring’s private papers are here, and if you will stay and help us out I will see, of course, that your salary goes right on as usual.”

An excuse fur remaining at Fair Oaks was what Scott particularly desired, but he replied indifferently, “If it will accommodate you, Mr. Whitney, I can remain for a few days.”

“Very well.  I cannot say just how long we may need you, though I anticipate a long contest.”

“Against Mrs. LaGrange?”

“Yes; though she has, in my opinion, no legal right whatever, yet she will make a hard fight, and with that trickster Hobson to help her with his chicanery, it is liable to take some time to beat them”