n face of the proof I carry of having been
with that woman after the fatal weapon struck her heart. But, to one who
knows me, and knows me well, I can surely appeal for credence to a tale
which I here declare to be as true as if I had sworn to it in a court of
justice."

"Anson!" I passionately cried out, loosening my clutch upon my uncle's
arm. My confidence in him had returned.

And then, as I noted the inspector's businesslike air, and my uncle's
wavering look and unconvinced manner, I felt my heart swell, and,
flinging all discretion to the wind, I bounded eagerly forward. Laying
my hands in those of Mr. Durand, I cried fervently:

"I believe in you. Nothing but your own words shall ever shake my
confidence in your innocence."

The sweet, glad look I received was my best reply. I could leave the
room, after that.

But not the house. Another experience awaited me, awaited us all, before
this full, eventful evening came to a close.

V. SUPERSTITION

I had gone up stairs for my wraps--my uncle having insisted on my
withdrawing from a scene where my very presence seemed in some degree to
compromise me.

Soon prepared for my departure, I was crossing the hall to the small
door communicating with the side staircase where my uncle had promised
to await me, when I felt myself seized by a desire to have another look
below before leaving the place in which were centered all my deepest
interests.

A wide landing, breaking up the main flight of stairs some few feet from
the top, offered me an admirable point of view. With but little thought
of possible consequences, and no thought at all of my poor, patient
uncle, I slipped down to this landing, and, protected by the unusual
height of its balustrade, allowed myself a parting glance at the scene
with which my most poignant memories were henceforth to be connected.

Before me lay the large square of the central hall. Opening out from
this was the corridor leading to the front door, and incidentally to the
library. As my glance ran down this corridor, I beheld, approaching from
the room just mentioned, the tall figure of the Englishman.

He halted as he reached the main hall and stood gazing eagerly at a
group of men and women clustered near the fireplace--a group on which I
no sooner cast my own eye than my attention also became fixed.

The inspector had come from the room where I had left him with Mr.
Durand and was showing to these people the extraordinary