looked at me.

"I shall be satisfied," I said, "to question her in the presence of
Mr. Goldberger, reserving the right to put her on the stand, should I
deem it necessary to do so."

"Very well," agreed the doctor. "I will prepare her," and he hurried
away toward the house.

Swain was gripping my arm savagely.

"See here, Mr. Lester," he said in my ear, his voice shaking with
anger, "I'm in deadly earnest about this. Take Miss Vaughan's
deposition if you wish, but under no circumstances shall she be hauled
before this crowd, in her present condition, and compelled to
testify."

"Why not?" I asked, surprised at his vehemence.

"Because, in the first place, her testimony can't help me; and, in the
second place, I won't have her tortured."

"She wouldn't be tortured."

"Look around at these reporters and these photographers, and then tell
me she wouldn't be tortured!"

"How do you know her evidence won't help you?"

"How can it?"

"It will confirm your story."

"Can it explain away the finger-prints?"

At the words, I suddenly realised that there was one person within
striking distance of the murdered man whose prints we had not
taken--his daughter. Not that they were necessary ...

Dr. Hinman appeared at the edge of the lawn and beckoned. As I arose
from my chair, Swain gave my arm a last savage grip.

"Remember!" he said.

But I kept my lips closed. If Miss Vaughan really loved him, and could
help him, I would not need to urge her to the stand!

Goldberger joined me and together we followed Hinman into the house
and up the stairs. He opened the door at the stair-head, waited for us
to precede him, followed us into the room, and closed the door
gently.

Miss Vaughan was half-sitting, half-reclining in a large chair. The
blinds were drawn and the room in semi-darkness, but even in that
light I could see how changed she was from the girl of whom I had
caught a glimpse two days before. Her face was dead white, as though
every drop of blood had been drained from it; her eyes were heavy and
puffed, as from much weeping, and it seemed to me that there still
lingered in their depths a shadow of horror and shrinking fear.

"This is Mr. Goldberger," said the doctor, "and this is Mr. Lester."

She inclined her head to each of us, as we took the chairs the doctor
drew up, and I fancied that her cheeks flushed a little as her eyes
met mine.

"I have explained to Miss Vaughan," the doctor continued, "that