ighly dangerous. The
sergeant yielded the point respectfully, but protestingly; and the cab
came, bringing an excited crowd in its train.

There was no lack of proffered help; but the Doctor and the sergeant
lifted the insensible woman into the cab between them. On arriving at
the Doctor's house the two men carried her indoors; then bells rang,
maid-servants hurried, exclaimed, and questioned; and soon the door of
the library was closed upon all except Mrs. Jessop and the Doctor. The
sergeant retired to the dining-room, and meditatively took an inventory
of its furniture and appointments, as he awaited further developments.
Noticing the Doctor's decanter of choice old port, which was still upon
the table where he had left it, the officer helped himself to a
glassful, drinking it with evident relish.

Half an hour passed before the Doctor entered. He took his seat
thoughtfully by the fire, and motioned to the sergeant to draw his
chair nearer.

"The wound is not much--merely a deep flesh-wound," he observed,
abruptly.

"Glad to hear it, I'm sure," returned the sergeant, politely.

"She has lost a great deal of blood, will be much weakened, and is
totally insensible now," Doctor Brudenell continued; "but no vital part
is touched--not the fault of that scoundrel, though, sergeant."

"Ah!" replied the sergeant, intelligently.

The Doctor had motioned to him to help himself to the wine, and he did
so now with contemplative deliberation.

"Then you think it is a case of intended murder, I take it, sir?"

"As far as my judgment serves me--yes. I should say the blow was meant
to kill her--indeed, only the steel of her corset saved her."

"H'm, I thought as much! Now, as to motive, sir; have you got any
theory?"

"Robbery, I suppose. Ah"--as the sergeant shook his head with a wise
air--"you don't think so, then!"

"No, I don't, sir. Maybe, of course, but I doubt it. A man don't use a
knife when his fists will do, as a rule. And look you here, sir," said
the sergeant, leaning forward to place his broad hand for a moment upon
the Doctor's knee--"when you find a fine old gentleman with a bald
crown or a 'spectable old lady with a bag and umbrella, tipped over
neat in a corner, you may put it down to robbery; for you won't find
anything in their pockets, I'll wager. But you find a good-looking
fellow with a ha'porth of rat poison inside of him that he didn't put
there himself, or a young woman stabbed that's as handso