le this question which otherwise may prove a vexed one."

Mr. Jeffrey's hand went up to his head. Was he acting a part or
did he really forget just what it was for his own best welfare to
remember? If he had forgotten, it argued that he was in a state of
greater disturbance on that night than would naturally be occasioned
by a mere lover's quarrel with his wife.

Did the same thought strike my companion? I can not say; I can only
give you his next words.

"You have said that your wife would not be likely to end her life
in presence of any one but yourself. Yet you must see that some one
was with her. How do you propose to reconcile your assertions with
a fact so undeniable?"

"I can not reconcile them. It would madden me to try. If I thought
any one was with her at that moment--"

"Well?"

Mr. Jeffrey's eyes fell; and a startling change passed over him.
But before either of us could make out just what this change
betokened he recovered his aspect of fixed melancholy and quietly
remarked:

"It is dreadful to think of her standing there alone, aiming a pistol
at her young, passionate heart; but it is worse to picture her doing
this under the gaze of unsympathizing eyes. I can not and will not
so picture her. You have been misled by appearances or what in
police parlance is called a clue."

Evidently he did not mean to admit the possibility of the pistol
having been fired by any other hand than her own. This the coroner
noted. Bowing with the respect he showed every man before a jury
had decided upon his guilt, he turned toward the door out of which
I had already hurried.

"We hope to hear from you in the morning," he called back
significantly, as he stepped down the stairs.

Mr. Jeffrey did not answer; he was having his first struggle with
the new and terrible prospect awaiting him at the approaching inquest.

BOOK II

THE LAW AND ITS VICTIM

XI

DETAILS

The days of my obscurity were over. Henceforth, I was regarded as
a decided factor in this case--a case which from this time on,
assumed another aspect both at headquarters and in the minds of
people at large. The reporters, whom we had hitherto managed to
hold in check, now overflowed both the coroner's office and police
headquarters, and articles appeared in all the daily papers with
just enough suggestion in them to fire the public mind and make me,
for one, anticipate an immediate word from Mr. Jeffrey calculated
to