the whole of the facts
connected with Mrs. Courtenay's mysterious death," the inspector went
on. "You will probably recollect, sir, a mystery down at Kew some
little time ago. It was fully reported in the papers, and created
considerable sensation--an old gentleman was murdered under remarkable
circumstances. Well, sir, the gentleman in question was Mrs.
Courtenay's husband."

The coroner sat back in his chair and stared at the officer who had
spoken, while in the court a great sensation was caused. Mention of
the Kew Mystery brought its details vividly back to the minds of
everyone. Yes. After all, the death of that poor costermonger, Lanky
Lane, was of greater public interest than the representatives of the
Press anticipated.

"Are you quite certain of this?" the coroner queried.

"Yes, sir. I am here by the direction of the Chief Inspector of
Scotland Yard to give evidence. I was engaged upon the case at Kew,
and have also made inquiries into the mystery at Neneford."

"Then you have suspicion that the deceased was--well, a person of bad
character?"

"We have."

"Fools!" growled Ambler. "Lane was a policeman's 'nose,' and often
obtained payment from Scotland Yard for information regarding the
doings of a certain gang of thieves. And yet they actually declare him
to be a bad character. Preposterous!"

"Do you apply for an adjournment?"

"No, sir. We anticipate that the verdict will be suicide--the only one
possible in face of the evidence."

And then, as though the jury were compelled to act upon the
inspector's suggestion, they returned a simple verdict. "That the
deceased committed suicide by poisoning while of unsound mind."

CHAPTER XXX.

SIR BERNARD'S DECISION.

For fully a week I saw nothing of Ambler.

Sir Bernard was unwell, and remained down at Hove; therefore I was
compelled to attend to his practice. There were several serious cases,
the patients being persons of note; thus I was kept very busy.

My friend's silence was puzzling. I wrote to him, but received no
response. A wire to his office in the City elicited the fact that Mr.
Jevons was out of town. Probably he was still pursuing the inquiry he
had so actively taken up. Nevertheless, I was dissatisfied that he
should leave me so entirely in the dark as to his intentions and
discoveries.

Ethelwynn came to town for the day, and I spent several hours shopping
with her. She was strangely nervous, and all the old spontaneous
ga