ne. That is why the big lock
was not fastened. The key, not working well, he took it some days ago to
the locksmith, and when the latter failed to return it, he laughed,
and said he thought no one would ever think of meddling with his front
door."

"Is there more than one night-key to your house?" I now asked.

She shook her head.

"And when did Mr. Hasbrouck last use his?"

"To-night, when he came home from prayer meeting," she answered, and
burst into tears.

Her grief was so real and her loss so recent that I hesitated to afflict
her by further questions. So returning to the scene of the tragedy, I
stepped out upon the balcony which ran in front. Soft voices instantly
struck my ears. The neighbours on either side were grouped in front of
their own windows, and were exchanging the remarks natural under the
circumstances. I paused, as in duty bound, and listened. But I heard
nothing worth recording, and would have instantly reentered the house,
if I had not been impressed by the appearance of a very graceful woman
who stood at my right. She was clinging to her husband, who was gazing
at one of the pillars before him in a strange fixed way which astonished
me till he attempted to move, and then I saw that he was blind.
I remembered that there lived in this row a blind doctor, equally
celebrated for his skill and for his uncommon personal attractions,
and greatly interested not only by his affliction, but in the sympathy
evinced by his young and affectionate wife, I stood still, till I heard
her say in the soft and appealing tones of love:

"Come in, Constant; you have heavy duties for to-morrow, and you should
get a few hours' rest if possible."

He came from the shadow of the pillar, and for one minute I saw his face
with the lamplight shining full upon it. It was as regular of feature as
a sculptured Adonis, and it was as white.

"Sleep!" he repeated, in the measured tones of deep but suppressed
feeling. "Sleep! with murder on the other side of the wall!" And he
stretched out his arms in a dazed way that insensibly accentuated the
horror I myself felt of the crime which had so lately taken place in the
room behind me.

She, noting the movement, took one of the groping hands in her own and
drew him gently towards her.

"This way," she urged; and, guiding him into the house, she closed the
window and drew down the shades.

I have no excuse to offer for my curiosity, but the interest excited in
me by this