"Twice, sir."
"The deuce!" muttered Fanks, with a frown. "I wonder why he is so anxious over this case?"
"I think I can tell you that, sir."
"And I think I can guess what you are about to say," retorted Fanks. "However, let me hear your theory."
"Well, I may be wrong," said Crate, modestly, "but it seems to me that this Mr. Garth is anxious to find out that Sir Louis Fellenger is concerned in the murder of his cousin, because----"
"Because he wants to inherit the Fellenger title and property as next heir," finished Fanks, smartly.
"Exactly, sir; what do you think of my theory?"
"There may be something in it, Crate," replied Fanks, thoughtfully; "of course, Mr. Garth comes into the Fellenger estates on the death of the present baronet. But," he added, emphatically, "we know that this negro actually killed Sir Gregory, so Louis could only be associated with the case as an accessory before the fact. Therefore he could not be hanged, even if the case were proved against him. Where would Mr. Garth be then? In such an event the estates would probably be thrown into Chancery while Sir Louis was undergoing imprisonment, and would not come to Garth for years. Your idea is a good one, Crate, but I do not see how it would benefit our friend."
Crate scratched his chin. "I suppose that Mr. Garth is lawyer enough to know all that," he said, grudgingly, "and wouldn't risk his neck for the mere chance of such a thing. He----"
"Ah! now you are on another track. Mr. Garth may be anxious to prove the case against Sir Louis, but I do not think he killed Sir Gregory himself."