r we passed down the hall.
A strange mood pervaded my mind. Instead of wishing to fly a scene which
under ordinary conditions would have filled me with utter repugnance,
I felt a desire to see and hear everything. Not from curiosity, such
as moved most of the people about me, but because of some strong
instinctive feeling I could not understand; as if it were my heart which
had been struck, and my fate which was trembling in the balance.

We were consequently among the first to hear such further details as
were allowed to circulate among the now well-nigh frenzied guests. No
one knew the perpetrator of the deed nor did there appear to be any
direct evidence calculated to fix his identity. Indeed, the sudden death
of this beautiful woman in the midst of festivity might have been looked
upon as suicide, if the jewel had not been missing from her breast
and the instrument of death removed from the wound. So far, the casual
search which had been instituted had failed to produce this weapon; but
the police would be here soon and then something would be done. As to
the means of entrance employed by the assassin, there seemed to be but
one opinion. The alcove contained a window opening upon a small balcony.
By this he had doubtless entered and escaped. The long plush curtains
which, during the early part of the evening, had remained looped back
on either side of the casement, were found at the moment of the crime's
discovery closely drawn together. Certainly a suspicious circumstance.
However, the question was one easily settled. If any one had approached
by the balcony there would be marks in the snow to show it. Mr. Ramsdell
had gone out to see. He would be coming back soon.

"Do you think this a probable explanation of the crime?" I demanded
of Mr. Durand at this juncture. "If I remember rightly this window
overlooks the carriage drive; it must, therefore, be within plain
sight of the door through which some three hundred guests have passed
to-night. How could any one climb to such a height, lift the window and
step in without being seen?"

"You forget the awning." He spoke quickly and with unexpected vivacity.
"The awning runs up very near this window and quite shuts it off from
the sight of arriving guests. The drivers of departing carriages could
see it if they chanced to glance back. But their eyes are usually on
their horses in such a crowd. The probabilities are against any of them
having looked up." His brow had cl