As the Milvains sat down to breakfast the clock of Wattleborough parish church struck eight; it was two miles away, but the strokes were borne very distinctly on the west wind this autumn morning. Jasper, listening before he cracked an egg, remarked with cheerfulness: 'There's a man being hanged in London at this moment.' 'Surely it isn't necessary to let us know that, ' said his sister Maud, coldly. 'And in such a tone, too!' protested his sister Dora. 'Who is it?' inquired Mrs Milvain, looking at her son with pained forehead. 'I don't know. It happened to catch my eye in the paper yesterday that someone was to be hanged at Newgate this morning. There's a certain satisfaction in reflecting that it is not oneself.' 'That's your selfish way of looking at things, ' said Maud.