It was past eleven when he reached the house, and he was shown up-stairs into one of the sitting-rooms on the first-floor. As he passed the door of the study, which was at the moment partly open, he saw the dress of a policeman within, and knew that the body of the dead man was still lying there. But he went by rapidly without a glance within, remembering the look of the man as he had last seen his burly figure, and that grasp of his hand, and those odious words. And now the man was dead,--having destroyed his own life. Surely the man must have known when he uttered those words what it was that he intended to do! When he had made that last appeal about Marie, conscious as he was that everyone was deserting him, he must even then have looked his fate in the face and have told himself that it was better that he should die! His misfortunes, whatever might be their nature, must have been heavy on him then with all their weight; and he himself and all the world had known that he was ruined. And yet he had pretended to be anxious about the girl's marriage, and had spoken of it as though he still believed that it would be accomplished!

When he reached the house, he was shown upstairs into one of the sitting-rooms. As he passed the study door, which was partly open, he saw a policeman within, and knew that the dead man's body was still lying there. He went by rapidly, remembering the look of the man as he had last seen him, and that grasp of his hand, and those odious words. Surely the man must have known when he uttered those words what he intended to do! And yet he had pretended to be anxious about the girl's marriage!
