s Lloyd had shrewdly concluded it was
to her best advantage to curry favor with the detective. This knowledge
came to me instinctively, and so I distrusted her gentle voice and
winning smile, and hardening my heart against her, I resolved to turn
this new mood of hers to my own advantage, and learn what I could while
she was willing to converse:

"I'm glad of this opportunity, Miss Lloyd," I said, "for there are some
phases of this affair that I want to discuss with you alone. Let us talk
the matter over quietly. It is as well that you should know that there
are some doubts felt as to the entire truth of the story you told at the
inquest. I do not say this to frighten you," I added, as the poor girl
clasped her hands and gave me a look of dumb alarm; "but, since it is
so, I want to do all I can to set the matter right. Do you remember
exactly all that took place, to your knowledge, on the night of your
uncle's death?"

"Yes," she replied, looking more frightened still. It was evident that
she knew more than she had yet revealed, but I almost forgot my
inquiry, so absorbed was I in watching her lovely face. It was even more
exquisite in its terrified pallor than when the fleeting pink showed in
her cheeks.

"Then," I said, "let us go over it. You heard your uncle go out at about
eight o'clock and return about nine?"

"Yes, I heard the front door open and close both times."

"You and Mrs. Pierce being in the music-room, of course. Then, later,
you heard a visitor enter, and again you heard him leave?"

"Yes--Mr. Porter."

"Did you know it was Mr. Porter, at the time he was here?"

"No; I think not. I didn't think at all who it might be. Uncle Joseph
often had men to call in the evening."

"About what time did Mr. Porter leave?"

"A few minutes before ten. I heard Lambert say, `Good-night, sir,' as he
closed the door after him."

"And soon after, you and Mrs. Pierce went upstairs?"

"Yes; only a few minutes after."

"And, later, Mrs. Pierce came to your room?"

"Yes; about half-past ten, I should say; she came to get a book. She
didn't stay two minutes."

"And after that, you went down-stairs again to speak to your uncle?" For
the merest instant Miss Lloyd's eyes closed and she swayed as if about
to faint, but she regained her composure at once, and answered with some
asperity,

"I did not. I have told you that I did not leave my room again that
night."

Her dark eyes blazed, her cheeks flushed, and