I was older, perhaps a trifle more sedate. I knew that
Helen loved me. There were no difficulties in the way of our marriage,
which was arranged for the following spring. Indeed, my second trial took
place on the very date we had selected. It was my duty to use poor Alan
gently. Even his foolish and unreasonable jealousy was a compliment."
Brett threw the scrap-book on to the table. He clasped his hands in front
of his knees, tucking his heels on the edge of his chair.
"Mr. Hume," he said slowly, gazing fixedly at the other, "I believe you.
You did not kill your cousin."
CHAPTER III
THE DREAM
"Thank you," was the quiet answer.
"You hinted at some supernatural influence in relation to this crime. What
did you mean?"
"Ah, that is the unpublished part of the affair. We are a Scots family, as
our name implies. The first Sir Alan Frazer became a baronet owing to his
services to King George during the '45 Rebellion. There was some trouble
about a sequestered estate--now our place in Scotland--which belonged to
his wife's brother, a Hume and a rebel. Anyhow, in 1763, he fought a duel
with Hume's son, his own nephew by marriage, and was killed."
"Really," broke in Brett, "this ancient history--"
"Is quite to the point. Sir Alan the first fought and died in front of the
library at Beechcroft.
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