saw him
now, intently pursuing his new train of thought, would have recognized
him as the childish creature who had awoke so innocently, and had
astonished Benjamin by the infantine nonsense which he talked? It
is said, and said truly, that there are many sides to every human
character. Dexter's many sides were developing themselves at such a
rapid rate of progress that they were already beyond my counting.

He lifted his head, and fixed a look of keen inquiry on me.

"I have come out of Mrs. Beauly's skin," he announced. "And I have
arrived at this result: We are two impetuous people; and we have been a
little hasty in rushing at a conclusion."

He stopped. I said nothing. Was the shadow of a doubt of him beginning
to rise in my mind? I waited, and listened.

"I am as fully satisfied as ever of the truth of what Lady Clarinda told
you," he proceeded. "But I see, on consideration, what I failed to see at
the time. The story admits of two interpretations--one on the surface,
and another under the surface. I look under the surface, in your
interests; and I say, it is just possible that Mrs. Beauly may have been
cunning enough to forestall suspicion, and to set up an Alibi."

I am ashamed to own that I did not understand what he meant by the last
word--Alibi. He saw that I was not following him, and spoke out more
plainly.

"Was the maid something more than her mistress's passive accomplice?"
he said. "Was she the Hand that her mistress used? Was she on her way to
give the first dose of poison when she passed me in this corridor? Did
Mrs. Beauly spend the night in Edinburgh--so as to have her defense
ready, if suspicion fell upon her?"

My shadowy doubt of him became substantial doubt when I heard that. Had
I absolved him a little too readily? Was he really trying to renew my
suspicions of Mrs. Beauly, as Mr. Playmore had foretold? This time I was
obliged to answer him. In doing so, I unconsciously employed one of the
phrases which the lawyer had used to me during my first interview with
him.

"That sounds rather far-fetched, Mr. Dexter," I said.

To my relief, he made no attempt to defend the new view that he had
advanced.

"It is far-fetched," he admitted. "When I said it was just
possible--though I didn't claim much for my idea--I said more for it
perhaps than it deserved. Dismiss my view as ridiculous; what are you to
do next? If Mrs. Beauly is not the poisoner (either by herself or by her
maid), who is? S