ur powers on this. You may be better at deductions
than I am. I have already confessed to you my inability in that
direction."

"Well," she went on, "I think this lady is rather good-looking, and I
think she appreciates the fact."

"The first is evident on the face of it, and the second is a universal
truth, so you haven't really deduced much as yet."

"No, that's so," and she pouted a little. "But at any rate, I can deduce
more about her dress than you can. The picture was taken, or at least
that costume was made, about a year ago, for that is the style that was
worn then."

"Marvellous, Holmes, marvellous!"

She flashed me a glance of understanding and appreciation, but
undaunted, went on: "The gown also was not made by a competent modiste,
but was made by a dressmaker in the house, who came in by the day. The
lady is of an economical turn of mind, because the lace yoke of the gown
is an old one, and has even been darned to make it presentable to use in
the new gown."

"Now that is deduction," I said admiringly; "the only trouble is,
that it doesn't do us much good. Somehow I can't seem to fancy this
good-looking, economical, middle-aged lady, who has her dressmaking
done at home, coming here in the middle of the night and killing Mr.
Crawford."

"No, I can't, either," said Florence gravely; "but then, I can't imagine
any one else doing that, either. It seems like a horrible dream, and I
can't realize that it really happened to Uncle Joseph."

"But it did happen, and we must find the guilty person. I think with
you, that this photograph is of little value as a clue, and yet it may
turn out to be. And yet I do think the gold bag is a clue. You are quite
sure it isn't yours?"

Perhaps it was a mean way to put the question, but the look of
indignation she gave me helped to convince me that the bag was not hers.

"I told you it was not," she said, "but," and her eyes fell, "since
I have confessed to one falsehood, of course you cannot believe my
statement."

"But I do believe it," I said, and I did, thoroughly.

"At any rate, it is a sort of proof," she said, smiling sadly, "that any
one who knows anything about women's fashions can tell you that it is
not customary to carry a bag of that sort when one is in the house and
in evening dress. Or rather, in a negligee costume, for I had taken
off my evening gown and wore a tea-gown. I should not think of going
anywhere in a tea-gown, and carrying a gold bag."