" VII.THE HORROR OF STUDLEY GRANGE.

"At Studley Grange, in Wiltshire.

"It may not be possible for me to stay at Studley Grange for a week, but in any case I can promise to come and see the patient.

" I was quite silent for a moment after Lady Studley had told me this.

" Lady Studley did not venture any further remonstrance, and we now approached the old Grange.

The moment I did so, Sir Henry turned white to his lips, and Lady Studley held up a warning finger to me to intimate that I was on dangerous ground.

We had a sociable little meal, at which nothing of any importance occurred, and shortly after the servants withdrew, Lady Studley left Sir Henry and me to ourselves.

" "He did, but Lady Studley opposed the idea so strenuously that I was obliged to yield to her entreaties.

Lady Studley has had dreadful nights for some time: perspirations, cough, restlessness, bad dreams, and all the rest of it.

I should then, by his advice, have taken Lady Studley to the Riviera, but she opposed the idea with such passion and distress, that I abandoned it.

I remembered at that moment what Lady Studley had said about her husband refusing to leave the Grange under any circumstances.

Night after night Lady Studley and I retire to rest at the same hour.

My outer door is locked, Lady Studley's outer door is locked.

"It is late, and Lady Studley might express surprise.

Lady Studley looked terribly weak and excitedthe hectic spots on her cheeks, the gleaming glitter of her eyes, the parched lips, the long, white, emaciated hands, all showed only too plainly the strides the malady under which she was suffering was making.

Lady Studley returned from her drive just as our arrangements were fully made.

Lady Studley came down to dinner in white from top to toe.

Lady Studley had come out, had come round to the library window, and, holding up her long, dark-blue velvet dress, was looking at us with a peculiar smile.

He left the room, and Lady Studley entered the library through one of the French windows.

Lady Studley's room opened directly into that of her husband, but both rooms had separate entrances.

I was in Lady Studley's room.

Who was the person who glided night after night into Lady Studley's room, who knew the trick of the secret spring in the wall, who entered the old wardrobe, and performed this ghastly, this appalling trick on Sir Henry Studley?

After a time Lady Studley opened her dim eyes.

As the grey morning broke Lady Studley died.

It may be of interest to explain how Lady Studley in her unhealthy condition of mind and body performed the extraordinary trick by which she hoped to undermine her husband's health, and ultimately cause his death.