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248 I conceive that he had no reason to complain of my services."

"And yet he meant to murder you or have you hanged for his murder."

"If he did, I can only suppose that he was out of his mind."

"Was he out of his mind when he worked the Coal Ramp to ruin you?"

"Dear me," said Sandford, "do you really suggest sir, that Mr. Kimball was responsible for that scandalous piece of finance?"

"Who else?"

"But really—you startle me. That is to say, as a Minister he betrayed the secrets of the department?"

"Well, he didn't stick at a trifle, did he?"

"The poor fellow must have been mad," said Sandford, with grave sympathy.

"Yes, yes. But why was he mad? Why did he hate you? My dear chap, do search your memory. Can you think of any sort of connexion between Kimball and you?"

"I never heard of him till he became prominent in the House. I never saw him till he came into the office. Our relations were always perfectly correct. No, I can only suppose that he was insane. Is it any use to try to discover reasons for the antipathies of madness? I have not studied the subject, but it seems obvious that they must be irrational. I am