"Your master was agitated when he opened it?"
"Very agitated, sir. He had an attack like that of the previous week when he was reading the paper."
"The letter was from a woman?"
"I supposed it was, sir, judging from the handwriting."
"Had Sir Gregory anything to do at that time with any particular woman?"
Robert grew even paler than usual, and placed his hand on his throat with a nervous gesture. He replied, with difficulty, his eyes on the ground.
"Not that I know of, sir," he said hoarsely.
Fanks was satisfied that the servant was lying, but he made no attempt to intervene. On the contrary, he signed to Garth to conclude his examination and to let the man go. This the lawyer did forthwith.
"That is all, Robert; you can go. I shall remain here with Mr. Rixton for a few minutes longer."
When the servant had taken his departure, Garth turned eagerly to his friend. "Well, Fanks, and what do you think of all this?"