occurred,
which brought me back to the tragedy and left a sinister impression in
my mind.

I have said that a decoration of yew trees circled the garden. At the
end farthest from the house they thickened into a continuous hedge. On
the other side of this hedge, concealed from the eyes of anyone
approaching from the direction of the house, there was a stone seat. As
I approached the spot I was aware of voices, some remark in the deep
tones of a man, answered by a little ripple of feminine laughter.

An instant later I had come round the end of the hedge and my eyes lit
upon Mrs. Douglas and the man Barker before they were aware of my
presence. Her appearance gave me a shock. In the dining-room she had
been demure and discreet. Now all pretense of grief had passed away
from her. Her eyes shone with the joy of living, and her face still
quivered with amusement at some remark of her companion. He sat
forward, his hands clasped and his forearms on his knees, with an
answering smile upon his bold, handsome face. In an instant--but it was
just one instant too late--they resumed their solemn masks as my figure
came into view. A hurried word or two passed between them, and then
Barker rose and came towards me.

"Excuse me, sir," said he, "but am I addressing Dr. Watson?"

I bowed with a coldness which showed, I dare say, very plainly the
impression which had been produced upon my mind.

"We thought that it was probably you, as your friendship with Mr.
Sherlock Holmes is so well known. Would you mind coming over and
speaking to Mrs. Douglas for one instant?"

I followed him with a dour face. Very clearly I could see in my mind's
eye that shattered figure on the floor. Here within a few hours of the
tragedy were his wife and his nearest friend laughing together behind a
bush in the garden which had been his. I greeted the lady with reserve.
I had grieved with her grief in the dining-room. Now I met her
appealing gaze with an unresponsive eye.

"I fear that you think me callous and hard-hearted." said she.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It is no business of mine," said I.

"Perhaps some day you will do me justice. If you only realized--"

"There is no need why Dr. Watson should realize," said Barker quickly.
"As he has himself said, it is no possible business of his."

"Exactly," said I, "and so I will beg leave to resume my walk."

"One moment, Dr. Watson," cried the woman in a pleading voice. "There
is one question whic