That's a suspicious circumstance, Mr.Portlethorpe." "Excuse me, ma'am--I don't see it," retorted Mr.Portlethorpe.

"I don't see it at all." "I do, then!" said Mrs.Ralston.

"Suspicious, because I, his sister, and only living relation, was close by.

Why didn't he come straight to me?
He was here--he took a quiet look around before he let any one know who he was.

That's one thing I have against him--whatever you say, it was very suspicious conduct; and he lied about it, in saying he had not been here, when he certainly had been here! But that's far from all.