The Curved Blades

oir faire was not proof against definite inquiries as to his intentions regarding the late M

departure at or about midnight. He denied his engagement of marriage, but admitted that

this house after leav

ssuredl

rrington's boudoir at on

by a successful effort he controlled his

s heard to

, as I was

re the mark she aimed at. What const

to boast of my att

ed, he even doubted his right to the title, and especially had he feared a marriage between him and Miss Lucy. And, granting that this feelin

uest of ten thousand dollars in Unit

the Count stammered

l has been read, and you know perfectly w

he knowledge?" aske

'm not

iss Carrington spoke those words to you? If not in her b

said the

. How could Miss Carrington speak to the Count concerning the bonds and concerning her infatuation for himself, which is no secret, unless he were there before her? And how co

. It is not mine, I know not whose it is. I know nothing of this sad affair, wha

ured Haviland, but he sa

e told now,-" ventur

d decided to let her tell it, as having a po

ortance as she took the stand. She related again the story she had told of the supposed burglar

sure it was a burgl

coat collar and a drawn-down cap. And he walked slyly,-sort of glided among the shrubs

n Count Charlier?" ask

e shriek. "The Count is a slim and elegant figure;

vant, and that he attacked Miss Carrington as she was seated at her dressing table. It seems impossible that he

m?" asked In

"Every way I try to think it out, I

ost involved case. I shall cable Carrington Lor

myself each receive half the residuary estate of Aunt Lucy, and, of cou

o pay for it. As man of business in this home, I am willin

Inspector. "Perhaps when the inquest is concluded, it may not be

not going to get anywhere. I admit the getting is difficult, but that's jus

urned to his task of que

se in weight. She stuck to the main points, however, that by the help of a strong field-glass she had discerned, in the bright moonlight, a m

o variations, and the jurymen wagge

n doings on Tuesday evenin

for a short walk at eleven o'clock." This last in refutation of Haskins, the Carringt

did you

moment I strolled over here because the S

were

who lives with me, is on a Western trip, I was alone, and I walked about to

arden Steps' estate?" asked Scofield, scenti

ation; "why should I! I was not really an acqu

on the conservatory verandah," s

ncing scornfully at the butler. "I beg you will not

s, Haskins?" said th

the man looked doggedly cer

went on Scofield

me to be over here, and how more than

deny it? And mightn't the butler be

e by any of the servants, surely the word of

o the verandah of a home where she was not an accept

uently looked at the Count and then quickly averted her gaze. She blushed and stammered when speaking his name or referring to him. In a word, she acted as a woman might act in regard to a man of whom she was jealous. And the situation bore it out. If Mrs. Frothingham had matrimo

his wits' end. At last he blurted out: "It is impossible, it seems, to get a coherent, or even plausible story fro

er petulant speech, and then Stephen Ills

ant duty to tell what litt

sfaction. Accepting his good fortune, he

t I was in the various rooms. At a late hour, perhaps something after ele

exclaimed the Cor

at him as if stricken dumb. "Yes, I saw her distinctly. She was evidently coming do

he see

went on into the reception room, where I was going in search of a scarf Mis

em to you a stra

It was not my affair what guests were at the ho

rts she was not an acquain

I refer to it now, except that in view of the subsequent tragedy it is due to every principle of right and justice that a

flashing eyes. "As mistress here now, I am interested to k

consternation or dismay as a cold, calculating expressi

t it no harm to take a peep. The great door was ajar, and I was a little chilled by my walk across the lawns. I said to myself, if I meet any one I will merely beg a few moments' grace and then run away. Yes, I did take a step or two up the stair,

oked ingenuous and truthful, but the Coroner distrusted femini

m sharply from the corner of her eye. Clearl

Carrington's room? True, she said she went only to the landing,-but pshaw, women had no regard for the truth! Had she and Count Charlier planned between them to-bah, why did this woman want to kill her ne

h was certain, for Stephen Illsley's story and her own a

tling statement. He declared that the glove which had been found clasped tightly

o that particular glove, he found many others, some worn and some entirely unused, but a

lier reluctantly admitte

ea how it came into Miss Carrington's possession, and I did n

d on the flustered Mrs. Frothingham; "a precious pair of adventure

bed. There was much cross-questioning and probing; there was much rather futile effort to make all the s

, who thereafter, probably for the purpose of diverting attention from the poison, struck her a blow on the head. The jury in their deliberation felt that C