His
eyes went toward 'Toinette, and he saw that she was looking at him, with
all the love that was in her soul laid bare for him--and all--to see. It
cheered him, as she meant it should.
Then Stark took his place upon the witness stand.
"This I.O.U. belongs to you, I take it?" said the coroner, briskly.
"It does, sir."
"And it was made out two days before the prisoner met his death. The
signature is yours?"
Stark bowed. His eyes sought Nigel's and rested upon the pale, lined face
with every appearance of concern. Then he looked back at the coroner.
"Dacre Wynne lent me that money two days before he came down to visit
Merriton. No one knew of it, except he and I. We had never been good
friends--in fact, I believe he hated me. My mother had been--well, kind
to him in the old days, and I suppose he hadn't forgotten it. Anyhow,
there was family difficulty. My--my pater left some considerable debts
which we found we were obliged to face. There was a woman--oh, I needn't
go into these family things, in a place like this, need I?.
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