"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to see you, Iris; to assure you of my sympathy."

"Is that true?"--she looked searchingly at him--"or did you come to learn all the particulars of our shame, to publish them to the world?"

"Whatever I publish will be in your favour," retorted Paul. "I am your friend--not your enemy."

"My friend? God knows I need one! I suppose everyone in Marborough knows that Milly is dead?"

"Yes; many people know."

"And that she was--murdered?"

"They know that also."

Iris looked at him strangely. "Who do they say killed her?" she demanded.

"Nobody knows; nobody ventures an opinion."