book to you. I see you have something
to communicate."

"I have, though I doubt if it is of the nature you expect. Mr. Gryce,
since I saw you last, my convictions upon a certain point have been
strengthened into an absolute belief. The object of your suspicious is
an innocent woman."

If I had expected him to betray any surprise at this, I was destined to
be disappointed. "That is a very pleasing belief," he observed. "I honor
you for entertaining it, Mr. Raymond."

I suppressed a movement of anger. "So thoroughly is it mine," I went on,
in the determination to arouse him in some way, "that I have come here
to-day to ask you in the name of justice and common humanity to suspend
action in that direction till we can convince ourselves there is no
truer scent to go upon."

But there was no more show of curiosity than before. "Indeed!" he cried;
"that is a singular request to come from a man like you."

I was not to be discomposed, "Mr. Gryce," I went on, "a woman's name,
once tarnished, remains so forever. Eleanore Leavenworth has too many
noble traits to be thoughtlessly dealt with in so momentous a crisis. If
you will give me your attention, I promise you shall not regret it."

He smiled, and allowed his eyes to roam from the poker to the arm of my
chair. "Very well," he remarked; "I hear you; say on."

I drew my notes from my pocketbook, and laid them on the table.

"What! memoranda?" he exclaimed. "Unsafe, very; never put your plans on
paper."

Taking no heed of the interruption, I went on.

"Mr. Gryce, I have had fuller opportunities than yourself for studying
this woman. I have seen her in a position which no guilty person could
occupy, and I am assured, beyond all doubt, that not only her hands, but
her heart, are pure from this crime. She may have some knowledge of its
secrets; that I do not presume to deny. The key seen in her possession
would refute me if I did. But what if she has? You can never wish to see
so lovely a being brought to shame for withholding information which she
evidently considers it her duty to keep back, when by a little patient
finesse we may succeed in our purposes without it."

"But," interposed the detective, "say this is so; how are we to arrive
at the knowledge we want without following out the only clue which has
yet been given us?"

"You will never reach it by following out any clue given you by Eleanore
Leavenworth."

His eyebrows lifted expressively, but he said noth