Norgate glanced around the room.
"I don't see Mrs.Benedek here this afternoon," he remarked.
Selingman shook his head solemnly.
"The inquest on the death of that poor fellow Baring is being held to-day," he explained.

"That is why she is staying away.

A sad thing that, Norgate--a very sad happening." "It was indeed." "And mysterious," Selingman went on.

"The man apparently, an hour before, was in high spirits.

The special work upon which he was engaged at the Admiralty was almost finished.