had no interview with Miss Challoner."

"But you saw her? Saw her that evening and just before the accident?"

Sweetwater's papers rattled; it was the only sound to be heard in that
moment of silence. Then--"What do you mean by those words?" inquired Mr.
Brotherson, with studied composure. "I have said that I had no interview
with Miss Challoner. Why do you ask me then, if I saw her?"

"Because I believe that you did. From a distance possibly, but yet
directly and with no possibility of mistake."

"Do you put that as a question?"

"I do. Did you see her figure or face that night?"

"I did."

Nothing--not even the rattling of Sweetwater's papers--disturbed the
silence which followed this admission.

"From where?" Dr. Heath asked at last.

"From a point far enough away to make any communication between us
impossible. I do not think you will require me to recall the exact
spot."

"If it were one which made it possible for her to see you as clearly
as you could see her, I think it would be very advisable for you to say
so."

"It was--such--a spot."

"Then I think I can locate it for you, or do you prefer to locate it
yourself?"

"I will locate it myself. I had hoped not to be called upon to mention
what I cannot but consider a most unfortunate coincidence. As a
gentleman you will understand my reticence and also why it is a matter
of regret to me that with an acumen worthy of your position, you should
have discovered a fact which, while it cannot explain Miss Challoner's
death, will drag our little affair before the public, and possibly give
it a prominence in some minds which I am sure does not belong to it.
I met Miss Challoner's eye for one instant from the top of the little
staircase running up to the mezzanine. I had yielded thus far to an
impulse I had frequently combated, to seek by another interview to
retrieve the bad effect which must have been made upon her by my angry
note. I knew that she frequently wrote letters in the mezzanine at this
hour, and got as far as the top of the staircase in my effort to join
her. But got no further. When I saw her on her feet, with her face
turned my way, I remembered the scorn with which she had received my
former heart-felt proposals and, without taking another step forward, I
turned away from her and fled down the steps and so out of the building
by the main entrance. She saw me, for her hand flew up with a startled
gesture, but I cannot think that my presenc