't recollect seeing him. Somebody knocked at my door
and said I was wanted, because my husband had been taken worse, so I
dressed and went down. But after that I don't recollect anything."

"Her mind is a trifle affected by the shock," I whispered to my love.
"Best take her downstairs into one of the rooms and lock the door.
Don't let her see the police. She didn't notice the constable at the
door. She'll be better presently."

I uttered these words mechanically, but, truth to tell, these
extraordinary symptoms alarmed and puzzled me. She had fainted at
hearing of the death of her husband, just as many other wives might
have fainted; but to me there seemed no reason whatsoever why the
swoon should be followed by that curious lapse of memory. The question
she had put to me showed her mind to be a blank. I could discern
nothing to account for the symptoms, and the only remedy I could
suggest was perfect quiet. I intended that, as soon as daylight came,
both women should be removed to the house of some friend in the
vicinity.

The scene of the tragedy was no place for two delicate women.

Notwithstanding Mrs. Courtenay's determination to enter her husband's
room I managed at last to get them both into the morning-room and
called the nurse and cook to go in and assist in calming her, for her
lapse of memory had suddenly been followed by a fit of violence.

"I must see him!" she shrieked. "I will see him! You can't prevent me.
I am his wife. My place is at his side!"

My love exchanged looks with me. Her sister's extraordinary manner
utterly confounded us.

"You shall see him later," I promised, endeavouring to calm her. "At
present remain quiet. No good can possibly be done by this wild
conduct."

"Where is Sir Bernard?" she inquired suddenly. "Have you telegraphed
for him? I must see him."

"As soon as the office is open I shall wire."

"Yes, telegraph at the earliest moment. Tell him of the awful blow
that has fallen upon us."

Presently, by dint of much persuasion, we managed to quiet her. The
nurse removed her hat, helped her out of her fur-lined coat, and she
sat huddled up in a big "grandfather" chair, her handsome evening gown
crushed and tumbled, the flowers she had worn in her corsage on the
previous night drooping and withered.

For some time she sat motionless, her chin sunk upon her breast, the
picture of dejection, until, of a sudden, she roused herself, and
before we were aware of her intention