worlds to penetrate.

Her countenance was not without its mystery also. She showed in every
lineament passionate concern and misery, and a deep tenderness from
which the element of fear was not absent. But she, as well as he,
betrayed that some misunderstanding deeper than any I had previously
suspected drew its intangible veil between them and made the near
proximity in which they sat at once a heart-piercing delight and an
unspeakable pain. What was the misunderstanding; and what was the
character of the fear that modified her every look of love in his
direction? Her perfect indifference to my presence proved that it was
not connected with the position in which he had placed himself towards
the police by his voluntary confession of crime, nor could I thus
interpret the expression, of frantic question which now and then
contracted her features, as she raised her eyes towards his sightless
orbs, and strove to read in his firm set lips the meaning of those
assertions she could only ascribe to loss of reason.

The stopping of the carriage seemed to awaken both from thoughts that
separated rather than united them. He turned his face in her direction,
and she stretching forth her hand, prepared to lead him from the
carriage, without any of that display of timidity which had previously
been evident in her manner.

As his guide she seemed to fear nothing; as his lover, everything.

"There is another and a deeper tragedy underlying the outward and
obvious one," was my inward conclusion, as I followed them into the
presence of the gentlemen awaiting them.

Dr. Zabriskie's quiet appearance was in itself a shock to those who had
anticipated the feverish unrest of a madman; so was his speech, which
was calm, straightforward, and quietly determined.

"I shot Mr. Hasbrouck," was his steady affirmation, given without any
show of frenzy or desperation. "If you ask me why I did it, I cannot
answer; if you ask me how, I am ready to state all that I know
concerning the matter."

"But, Dr. Zabriskie," interposed one of the inspectors, "the why is the
most important thing for us to consider just now. If you really desire
to convince us that you committed this dreadful crime of killing a
totally inoffensive man, you should give us some reason for an act so
opposed to all your instincts and general conduct."

But the doctor continued unmoved:

"I had no reason for murdering Mr. Hasbrouck. A hundred questions can
elicit no other r