"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" His
calm and courteous manner were infuriating. But seeing the book, Earl
Arthur contained himself.
"I am here to inform you, Lord
Purceville, of my decision to hold a formal Inquest into your conduct
as Governor of this province. I have made this intention known to the
King, and only await the arrival of his official observer to begin
proceedings against you."
"Well," replied Purceville calmly. "You are within your rights as
Secretary, I am sure. But might I inquire, as an innocent man, what it
is I am being charged with?"
Arthur went on to tell him, with some heat, of the suspicious nature
of the second corpse, of the bastard daughter imprisoned somewhere
within the castle walls, and of the subsequent disappearance of his
son, who could perhaps have explained both these things.
But not only was Purceville unruffled, when the girl was mentioned, it
was all he could do to suppress a sinister smile.
"Yes," he said, when the other had finished. "I can see how these
things might upset you.
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