about your story."

"Perhaps you will deny the evidence of your eyes?" I asked; "look at
this."

I pointed to where the bullet from the revolver had struck the
looking-glass over the mantelpiece and starred it.

"No," he answered, "that certainly looks as if it had been smashed by a
bullet. There is the little round hole where the bullet entered. And
there is another point too," he continued, "you say you left the old
lady lying on the bed bleeding, not half an hour ago?"

"Certainly."

"Then the bed ought to be warm; let us come and see."

We walked back into the bedroom and examined the bed again.

It was very evident to me that a fresh coverlet had been put on the bed
and fresh sheets. How it could have been done in so short a time was a
marvel to me.

The doctor put his hand on the coverlet.

"That is quite cold," he reported, "there can be no question of a doubt
about that."

"Let me try inside the bed," I suggested; "that may tell a different
tale."

I turned down the bedclothes, and put my hand into the bed. It was
distinctly warm!

"Now," I said, turning to the doctor, "do you believe me or not?"

He put his hand into the bed.

"Yes," he answered, "it is certainly warm. I don't know what to make
of it."

I thrust my hand once more deep beneath the clothes, and this time it
encountered something and closed on it. I glanced at it as I drew it
out.

It was a lady's handkerchief.

I don't know what moved me to do it, but an impulse made me put it in
my pocket, without showing it to the doctor.

"I don't know what to make of it at all," repeated Dr. Redfern,
stroking his chin, "but one thing is certain, we must acquaint the
police."

"Certainly," I answered. "I think we ought to have done that long ago."

"Well, will you promise me to remain here, Mr.--Mr.--?" he queried.

"Anstruther," I suggested. People in the middle class of life always
assume that you are a "Mr." I might have been a Duke!

"Will you promise me to remain here, Mr. Anstruther," he asked, "while
I go and telephone the police?"

"Of course," I answered; "what should I want to run away for?"

"Very well, then," he said with a nod and a smile. "I will take it
that you won't. I will be back inside a quarter of an hour."

We lit more of the candles on the walls, and then I took the candle
lamp to light him upstairs to the front door.

I was standing there watching him going up Monmouth Street towards his
ho