Byass reason to suppose that he knew anything of Joseph's
whereabouts, but Bessie's thoughts naturally turned in that
direction.
'The news comes to me by chance,' he continued. 'I think I ought to
communicate it to Miss Snowdon privately, and leave her to let you
know what it is, as doubtless she will. Would it be inconvenient to
you to let me have the use of your parlour for five minutes?'
'I'll go and light the gas at once, and toil Miss Snowdon.'
'Thank you, Mrs. Byass.'
He was nervous, a most unusual thing with him. Till Bessie's return
he p aced the room irregularly, chewing the ends of his moustache.
When it was announced to him that the parlour was ready he went
down, the letter in his hand. At the half-open door came a soft
knock. Jane entered.
She showed signs of painful agitation.
'Will you sit down, Miss Snowdon? It happens that I have a
correspondent in the United States, who has lately had--had
business relations with Mr. Joseph Snowdon, your father. On
returning this evening I found a letter from my friend, in which
there is news of a distressing kind,'
He paused. What he was about to say was--for once--the truth.
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