AT THE BAR.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "A CRUISE UPON WHEELS," &c. &c.

CHAPTER XX. THE PERIL INCREASES.

AT the appointed hour on the afternoon of the
eventful day with which we have been so long
occupied, the doctor of the police force arrived,
accompanied by a surgeon of some eminence,
who was to assist Dr. Giles in his investigation.
It lasted some hours, and all the time
there was a strange and ominous quiet about
the house, a silence which no one cared to
break.

At last it was announced that the work was
accomplished, and that the doctors had come
down stairs into the dining-room, and wished
to speak with Mr. Penmore. He found them
looking very grave, and there was an awkward
silence.

"I am sorry to say, Mr. Penmore," began Dr.
Giles at last, after introducing his colleague, a
pale, studious-looking gentleman in spectacles,
"that both my friend Mr. Slade and myself have
come, in consequence of the investigations in
which we have just been engaged, to a somewhat
painful conclusion. There must be an
inquest."

"An inquest?" repeated Gilbert, in some dismay.
"Is there any doubt, then, about the
cause of death?"

"I am afraid, Mr. Penmore," replied the
doctor, " that, on the contrary, there is no
doubt whatever that the cause of death has been
the administration of poison."

"Of what?" cried Gilbert, surprised beyond all
possibility of self-restraint.

"Of poison," repeated Dr. Giles, gravely.

There was a dead silence for some minutes
after this. Gilbert required time to collect himself
a little, and no doubt both the doctors felt
that this must be so, for they left him awhile
undisturbed.

"What you have told me," said Gilbert at
last, speaking in a low tone, " has so entirely
taken me by surprise, and the announcement is
altogether so terrible, that I hardly know what
I ought to say or do." He stopped for a time.
"Have you found out what the poison was?"
he asked presently.

"We have no doubt whatever that the poison
which has been administered is opium. That
is your opinion, too, Slade, is it not?"

"Beyond a doubt," replied Mr. Slade. " We
have detected its presence quite unmistakably,
and in somewhat large quantity."

Again there was silence. These men spoke
with certainty and confidence. Yet Gilbert could
hardly realise that what they said was truth.
At last he spoke again:

"Have you formed any opinion as to how or
by whom this poison has been administered?"

Dr. Giles had formed an opinion, and a tolerably
strong one too, in his own mind, but he
could not bring himself to give it tongue. It
was too dreadful to be put into words. His
colleague was not slow in coming to his rescue.

"As to that," said Mr. Slade, " it would be
impossible, and, indeed, extremely wrong as
well, to form any conclusion, or even to entertain
a suspicion, till after the inquest has taken
place."

"Quite impossible to say anything till then,"
remarked Dr. Giles.

"And when shall that be?" asked Penmore.

"I think, if possible, it had better be to-morrow,"
said the doctor; " and, unless you wish to
put the affair in any other hands, I will see the
coroner on the subject myself, and save you the
trouble and annoyance."

"You are very kind. I will ask you to do
so," said Gilbert.

"I think to-morrow will probably be the day
appointed," continued Dr. Giles; " but you shall
know in the course of the evening."

The two medical gentlemen rose to go, but at
this moment the door opened, and Mrs. Penmore
entered the room, followed closely by her
evil genius, Jane Cantanker. Gabrielle made at
once for the spot where her husband stood. She
was deadly pale, and looked continually over her
shoulder at this woman, with the appearance of
one who is scared and terrified.

Both the doctors made way to allow Mrs.
Penmore to pass.

"What is the matter, Gabrielle?" asked Penmore,
kindly. " I am afraid that this affair has
frightened you terribly."

Gabrielle could only press her husband's arm.
Her eyes were still fixed upon the woman who
hated her.

"I wish to know," said this last, addressing
the two doctors, " whether she"—and Cantanker