The Circular Study

ere unknown to her. Yet when she found herself alone after this interview, it was with difficulty she could restrain herself from indulging in some of those outward manifestations of une

nd, accosting her with a

o await the result. Madam, have you any further ideas?

ession was at

e of the one I have already advanced, before I venture upon another. Let us enter into a conferenc

at least, I may admit that there is something in the mute's gestures and general manner which conveys to my mind the impression that he is engaged

lready had my suspicions turned in another direction. Besides, it is more

e loved th

d not B

ot mourn M

onger master of

at he is giving us a literal copy of acts he has seen performed. Then, why pass over the gleam of infernal joy that lights

as no joy in the face of the young man I saw rushing away from this scene of violence. Quit

d has its ebb. If you allow yourself

s a good sign. You are never humorous when

. Illumination frequently comes f

wn as one of the mysteries to be explained later.

m the motive power in this murder. One is not driven insane by an expected horror. I

cent witness of this crime, and, having nothing to fear, may be t

but profit is likely to follow an arg

Butterworth, ever on the look-out for sarcasm from his lips, brid

he must have surprised the assailant from the study doorway,

y in front of him. Now w

arm and stretch it behind him, while he leans forw

came upon him, he was thrusting with his left hand across his own bod

rs agree that Mr. Adams was k

on't you see the

ficulty,

s, which, in this case, would be the assailant's right. Try, for the moment, to mimic my actions. See! I lift this hand, and instinctively (nay, I detected the movement, sir, quick

but this woman exercised a species of fascination upon him at times, and it rat

conclusions are to be drawn from it? That the man was not left-hande

thing for an hour spent with you in Mr. Adams's study, with Bartow free to move about at his will. I think

the temerity involved in this suggestion even if, according to her own decla

r. Gryce was taken unawares, and fo

t is, after the funeral. There are too

teresting, and my connection with it so peculiar, that I sometimes forget myself. Do you think"-here she becam

ady, or rather her folded hands, with an a

s held for several days. Meanwhile we may light on those two young people oursel

that showed the old detective at his worst. But Miss Butterworth did

ered there. But they were not. Another person entered the ho

adam, you are a mi

m whose lips it came. "I ought to have spoken of him before

gentl

man, did not appear to have any connection wi

some one who knew Mr. Adams-really, madam, patien

it. Besides, I'm quite ready to discuss

entures in this house of death," dryly suggested the detec

left out except what I am about to relate to y

to be more explicit. But, i

serenity, certainly must have borne marks of deep emotion. Neither of us spoke. At last he inquired politely if he might enter, and said something about having an appointment with some one in the study. At which I stepped briskly enough aside, I assure you, for this might mean-What did you say? Did I close the door? I assuredly did. Was I to let the whol

u, Miss Butterworth. More than that. You followed hi

e was in a strange house; there was no servant to guide him, he wa

. It must have been an in

el, sir, and the shock he received at finding a dead man awaiting him, inste

man who had an appointment with Mr. Adams was shocked, rea

ead man where he expected to find a live one. Yet he made no sound after that first cry, and hardly any movement. He just stared at the figure on the floor; then at his face, which he seemed to devour, at first with curiosity, then with hate, then with terror, and lastly-how can I express myself?-with a sort of hellish humor that in another moment might have broken into something like a laugh, if the bird, which I had failed to observe up to this moment, had not waked in its high cage, and, thrusting its beak b

! Is it fatality, or did he

nt door without a word. Being an intruder myself, I did not like to stop him. But I am sorry now for the consideration I showed him; for just before he stepped out, his emotion-the special character of which, I own to you, I find impossible to understand-culminated in a burst

as Felix. Felix, the son of Amos. Perhaps this connection of names may lead to something. It is not a common one, and if given to the papers, may result in our receiv

olice, and would have been glad if I could have so escaped all responsibility in the matter. But the irony of fate follows me as it does others. A clew was left of my presence, which involves me in this affair, whe

will let you know. It will be the least I ca

te longer than was judicious. Good evening, Mr. Gryce. What?

personal to yourself. May I inquire if you wor

ion, and so will not express my surprise. Yesterday I

rings tied un

gs; long strings are

ething which fell

me you to know it, sir? Did I lea

y wrote the fact on the study table top. Or so I have dared to th

was all I saw, and the skirt

streaks found on the top of the table I speak of were evidences of your presence there. But if your boa is clean, or was not long enough to touch that dying man as you leaned ove

of man, or, rather, woman. In secret search for clews I left behind me traces of my

may not have been entirely sincere,

ing elicited so much and imparted so little? I doubt it.