'I know it's no business of mine,' I continued,' and yet it is. No man had a better friend than Jack, and—and—owing to the peculiar way we were brought together perhaps, no man ever felt a deeper interest in another man than I feel in him. That is why——; I say, Lorna, I'm afraid he'd be mad with me for telling you, but—but—he'd give the world to marry you.'
'I shall never marry him,' and her words were like a cry of despair.
'But—but——'
'I shall never marry him,' she repeated, still in the same tones.
At that moment we heard Sir Thomas Bolivick's voice, and turning, saw him coming towards us with a look of horror on his face.
'I say, this is ghastly,' he said.
'What is it, dad?' asked Lorna anxiously.
'It's terrible, simply terrible,—and yet—you see—Maurice St. Mabyn has just telegraphed me. He says he has just received a message from Plymouth. That man Springfield was found dead an hour or so ago.'
'Found dead!' I gasped.
'Yes, in his room in the —— Hotel. Committed suicide.'