the power of his sense. In these instants a
picture was printed on his memory that would never pass away.

As he went by unheard on the turf the woman, still alone with her
thoughts, suddenly moved. She unclasped her long hands from about her
knees, stretched her limbs and body with feline grace, then slowly
raised her head and extended her arms with open, curving fingers, as if
to gather to her all the glory and overwhelming sanity of the morning.
This was a gesture not to be mistaken: it was a gesture of freedom,
the movement of a soul's resolution to be, to possess, to go forward,
perhaps to enjoy.

So he saw her for an instant as he passed, and he did not turn. He knew
suddenly who the woman must be, and it was as if a curtain of gloom were
drawn between him and the splendour of the day.

During breakfast at the hotel Mr Cupples found Trent little inclined to
talk. He excused himself on the plea of a restless night. Mr Cupples, on
the other hand, was in a state of bird-like alertness. The prospect
of the inquest seemed to enliven him. He entertained Trent with a
disquisition upon the history of that most ancient and once busy
tribunal, the coroner's court, and remarked upon the enviable freedom
of its procedure from the shackles of rule and precedent. From this he
passed to the case that was to come before it that morning.

'Young Bunner mentioned to me last night,' he said, 'when I went up
there after dinner, the hypothesis which he puts forward in regard
to the crime. A very remarkable young man, Trent. His meaning is
occasionally obscure, but in my opinion he is gifted with a clearheaded
knowledge of the world quite unusual in one of his apparent age. Indeed,
his promotion by Manderson to the position of his principal lieutenant
speaks for itself. He seems to have assumed with perfect confidence the
control at this end of the wire, as he expresses it, of the complicated
business situation caused by the death of his principal, and he has
advised very wisely as to the steps I should take on Mabel's behalf,
and the best course for her to pursue until effect has been given to
the provisions of the will. I was accordingly less disposed than I might
otherwise have been to regard his suggestion of an industrial vendetta
as far-fetched. When I questioned him he was able to describe a
number of cases in which attacks of one sort or another--too often
successful--had been made upon the lives of persons who had incurred