she turned, her eyes shining with tears, the first he had seen
since entering the house.

"At last--at last!" she said in low broken accents. "Oh dear God, how
long I've waited and despaired! At last we may belong to each other
forever--body and soul! Nothing else matters now, does it? We shall
forget all the blank hideous years; you'll forget it, won't you,
dearest? You'll forgive me--now--say that you will?"

"I've long ago forgiven, Nan, but tell me about this sudden fatal
attack. You were with him when he was stricken?"

"Yes, I took the nurse's place at midnight; I couldn't sleep."

Stuart lowered his eyes to conceal his excitement.

"How long did you stay with him?"

"Until I called you."

"And you gave him the medicine in the absence of the nurse?"

"Only one," she answered, hesitatingly, "a particular kind the doctor
had not prescribed, but which he persisted in taking to relieve his
pain."

"He asked for it?"

"Yes. He was suffering horribly. He begged me to give it to him. I
couldn't resist his pleading."

"You didn't love him, Nan?" he went on evenly.

"You know that, Jim."

"You had wished him dead a thousand times?"

"Why do you talk so queerly? Why do you ask me such questions. Surely
you----"

"And you were jealous of Harriet Woodman?"

"No! No! What could put such a thing into your head?"

"You saw in the Sunday papers, the day before his death, the sketch of
Harriet's life and the fact that she was going to sing abroad?"

"Yes, yes, but what of it?"

"You saw her in my arms the night of her triumph and you knew that I
was going to sail on the same ship?"

"For God's sake, are you accusing me?" she cried, in anguish.

"He asked you for medicine, Nan?" he went on remorselessly.

"Yes, a powder----"

"A poisonous powder--and you gave him one?"

"Yes."

"But he begged for two?"

"Yes."

"And you're sure you gave him but one?"

"He was begging for two--I might have given them both--it's possible,
of course."

He gazed at her with a look of pity.

"I know that you did. Nan, know it as certainly as if I stood by your
side and saw you press it to his lips."

"You know, Jim?" she cried feebly, her head drooping low.

"And you have no consciousness of crime in the act?"

"I only did what he wished. I couldn't know that it would be fatal."

"And you feel no remorse?"

"Why should I? His death seemed only a question of days----"

The woman began to sob.

"My only c