t.

"You would be an invaluable aid," I said simply. "The idea, instead of
being impertinent, gratifies me more than I can express; I 'm sometimes
very blind, Miss Cooper. And think: you may be the instrument of freeing
Mr. Maillot from all suspicion or blame."

Slowly, her eyes shining, she resumed her seat. It was manifest that my
regarding the matter so favorably pleased her immensely--doubtless
because the potentialities appealed strongly to her curiosity and
imagination, aside from any faith she might have entertained in her
ability really to assist me. She was collected once more, but alive with
enthusiasm.

"Such an alliance," I went on, "will entail many demands upon your time;
from now on I shall make no move that we have not threshed out together."

"How lovely!" she murmured, joyfully. "And you will always find me
ready."

And then I told her everything there was to tell. I recounted every
incident that had befallen me since coming to the house, every fragment
of possible evidence that my search had brought to light; to all of which
she listened with the closest attention, interrupting only occasionally
to elicit more comprehensive information. Verily, how I had misjudged
her!

Next I strove to prepare her against the inquest. "It will try your
strength to the utmost," said I. "What with Mr. Maillot's injured eye,
coupled with the struggle preceding the fight and Burke's inability to
have delivered the death-blow himself, you must anticipate the worst."

"Royal may have to go to jail?" she interrupted, in a troubled voice.

"It's not unlikely. If the coroner's jury fastens the crime upon him,
the coroner will have no alternative except to hold him for the grand
jury. If we could show that a third person was in the house last night,
it would help him tremendously.

"But bear in mind, Miss Cooper," I strove earnestly to allay her fears,
"that the inquest will be merely a preliminary hearing, of no consequence
further than the extent to which it will excite comment and influence
public opinion; that's the worst feature of it for an innocent man.
Whatever we may succeed in accomplishing will in all probability come
after the inquest."

Last of all, I produced the small leather jewel-case, and the
visiting-card I had found lying before the concealed safe. She examined
the card first, reading aloud the inscription thereon:

"'I pray that you be showered with all the blessings of the season.