." Then, in a graver tone, he went on to say: "Mr. Raymond,
are you aware that in all this you have been strengthening the case
against Eleanore Leavenworth instead of weakening it?"

I could only ejaculate, in my sudden wonder and dismay.

"You have shown her to be secret, sly, and unprincipled; capable of
wronging those to whom she was most bound, her uncle and her husband."

"You put it very strongly," said I, conscious of a shocking discrepancy
between this description of Eleanore's character and all that I had
preconceived in regard to it.

"No more so than your own conclusions from this story warrant me in
doing." Then, as I sat silent, murmured low, and as if to himself:
"If the case was dark against her before, it is doubly so with this
supposition established of her being the woman secretly married to Mr.
Clavering."

"And yet," I protested, unable to give up my hope without a struggle;
"you do not, cannot, believe the noble-looking Eleanore guilty of this
horrible crime?"

"No," he slowly said; "you might as well know right here what I think
about that. I believe Eleanore Leavenworth to be an innocent woman."

"You do? Then what," I cried, swaying between joy at this admission and
doubt as to the meaning of his former expressions, "remains to be done?"

Mr. Gryce quietly responded: "Why, nothing but to prove your supposition
a false one."

XXV. TIMOTHY COOK

"Look here upon this picture and on this."
--Hamlet.

I STARED at him in amazement. "I doubt if it will be so very difficult,"
said he. Then, in a sudden burst, "Where is the man Cook?"

"He is below with Q."

"That was a wise move; let us see the boys; have them up."

Stepping to the door I called them.

"I expected, of course, you would want to question them," said I, coming
back.

In another moment the spruce Q and the shock-headed Cook entered the
room.

"Ah," said Mr. Gryce, directing his attention at the latter in his own
whimsical, non-committal way; "this is the deceased Mr. Stebbins' hired
man, is it? Well, you look as though you could tell the truth."

"I usually calculate to do that thing, sir; at all events, I was never
called a liar as I can remember."

"Of course not, of course not," returned the affable detective. Then,
without any further introduction: "What was the first name of the lady
you saw married in your master's house last summer?"

"Bless me if I know! I don't think I heard, sir."

"Bu