t the questions which have been put to her in this
room that any one listening to her would give her the credit of
knowing more than she ought to of this horrible affair. She acts"--Mary
whispered, but not so low but that every word could be distinctly
heard in all quarters of the room--"as if she were anxious to conceal
something. But she is not; I am sure she is not. Eleanore and I are not
good friends; but all the world can never make me believe she has any
more knowledge of this murder than I have. Won't somebody tell her,
then--won't you--that her manner is a mistake; that it is calculated to
arouse suspicion; that it has already done so? And oh, don't forget to
add"--her voice sinking to a decided whisper now--"what you have just
repeated to me: that circumstantial evidence is not always absolute
proof."

I surveyed her with great astonishment. What an actress this woman was!

"You request me to tell her this," said I. "Wouldn't it be better for
you to speak to her yourself?"

"Eleanore and I hold little or no confidential communication," she
replied.

I could easily believe this, and yet I was puzzled. Indeed, there was
something incomprehensible in her whole manner. Not knowing what else
to say, I remarked, "That is unfortunate. She ought to be told that the
straightforward course is the best by all means."

Mary Leavenworth only wept. "Oh, why has this awful trouble come to me,
who have always been so happy before!"

"Perhaps for the very reason that you have always been so happy."

"It was not enough for dear uncle to die in this horrible manner; but
she, my own cousin, had to----"

I touched her arm, and the action seemed to recall her to herself.
Stopping short, she bit her lip.

"Miss Leavenworth," I whispered, "you should hope for the best. Besides,
I honestly believe you to be disturbing yourself unnecessarily. If
nothing fresh transpires, a mere prevarication or so of your cousin's
will not suffice to injure her."

I said this to see if she had any reason to doubt the future. I was
amply rewarded.

"Anything fresh? How could there be anything fresh, when she is
perfectly innocent?"

Suddenly, a thought seemed to strike her. Wheeling round in her seat
till her lovely, perfumed wrapper brushed my knee, she asked: "Why
didn't they ask me more questions? I could have told them Eleanore never
left her room last night."

"You could?" What was I to think of this woman?

"Yes; my room is neare