.

POLICHINELLE.
"Why, Ned," he asked gravely, "what has happened ?" "It is Samoval," was Tremayne's quiet answer.

"He is quite dead." He stood up as he spoke, and Sir Terence observed with terrible inward mirth that his tone had the frank and honest ring, his bearing the imperturbable ease which more than once before had imposed upon him as the outward signs of an easy conscience.

This secretary of his was a cool scoundrel.
"Samoval, is it ?" said Sir Terence, and went down on one knee beside the body to make a perfunctory examination.

Then he looked up at the captain.
"And how did this happen ?" "Happen ?" echoed Tremayne, realising that the question was being addressed particularly to himself.