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