t that down, then, as so much against us."

"The next, and this is a bitter pill too, is the almost insurmountable
difficulty already recognised of determining how a man, without
approaching his victim, could manage to inflict a mortal stab in her
breast. No cloak of complete invisibility has yet been found, even by
the cleverest criminals."

"True. The problem is such as a nightmare offers. For years my dreams
have been haunted by a gnome who proposes just such puzzles."

"But there's an answer to everything, and I'm sure there's an answer to
this. Remember his business. He's an inventor, with startling ideas. So
much I've seen for myself. You may stretch probabilities a little in
his case; and with this conceded, we may add by way of off-set to the
difficulties you mention, coincidences of time and circumstance, and
his villainous heart. Oh, I know that I am prejudiced; but wait and see!
Miss Challoner was well rid of him even at the cost of her life."

"She loved him. Even her father believes that now. Some lately
discovered letters have come to light to prove that she was by no means
so heart free as he supposed. One of her friends, it seems, has also
confided to him that once, while she and Miss Challoner were sitting
together, she caught Miss Challoner in the act of scribbling capitals
over a sheet of paper. They were all B's with the exception of here
and there a neatly turned O, and when her friend twitted her with her
fondness for these two letters, and suggested a pleasing monogram, Miss
Challoner answered, 'O. B. (transferring the letters, as you see) are
the initials of the finest man in the world.'"

"Gosh! has he heard this story?"

"Who?"

"The gentleman in question."

"Mr. Brotherson?"

"Yes."

"I don't think so. It was told me in confidence."

"Told you, Mr. Gryce? Pardon my curiosity."

"By Mr. Challoner."

"Oh! by Mr. Challoner."

"He is greatly distressed at having the disgraceful suggestion
of suicide attached to his daughter's name. Notwithstanding the
circumstances,--not--withstanding his full recognition of her secret
predilection for a man of whom he had never heard till the night of
her death, he cannot believe that she struck the blow she did,
intentionally. He sent for me in order to inquire if anything could
be done to reinstate her in public opinion. He dared not insist that
another had wielded the weapon which laid her low so suddenly, but
he asked if, in my experience,