"I saw in a paper the other day that your book was an impossible one—that nothing analogous to its story ever happened in real life."
"Several critics have said that," replied Linton, growing angry, and thereby losing his caution, "but they are wrong, as I could prove did I choose to do so."
"What!" said Claude, in feigned astonishment. "Did you take the incident from real life?"
"The tale is founded on an incident from real life," answered Linton, flushing. "That is, Miss Paynton told me of a certain crime which was actually committed, and on her hint I worked out the story."
"Oh, Miss Paynton told you," said Tait smoothly; "and where did she see the account of this crime?"
"Ah, that I cannot tell you," replied Linton frankly. "She related the history of this crime, and refused to let me know whence she obtained it. I thought the idea a good one, and so wrote the novel."
"Why don't you tell this to the world, and so confound the critics?"
"I do! I have told several people. For instance, I told a gentleman about it this very evening, just because he made the same remark as Mr. Larcher did."
Tait drew a long breath, and stole a look at Claude. That young man had changed color and gave utterance to the first idea that entered his mind.
"Was it Mr. Hilliston who made the remark?"