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DETECTIVE KNAPP ARRIVES


Meanwhile, in a small room at the court-house, a still more
serious conversation was in progress. Dr. Talbot, Mr. Fenton, and
a certain able lawyer in town by the name of Harvey, were in close
discussion. The last had broken the silence of years, and was
telling what he knew of Mrs. Webb's affairs.

He was a shrewd man, of unblemished reputation. When called upon
to talk, he talked well, but he much preferred listening, and was,
as now appeared, the safest repository of secrets to be found in
all that region. He had been married three times, and could still
count thirteen children around his board, one reason, perhaps, why
he had learned to cultivate silence to such a degree. Happily, the
time had come for him to talk, and he talked. This is what he
said:

"Some fifteen years ago Philemon Webb came to me with a small sum
of money, which he said he wished to have me invest for his wife.
It was the fruit of a small speculation of his and he wanted it
given unconditionally to her without her knowledge or that of the
neighbours. I accordingly made out a deed of gift, which he signed
with joyful alacrity, and then after due thought and careful
investigation, I put the money into a new enterprise then being
started in Boston. It was the best stroke of business I ever did