d
towards them again, Ralph had flung himself down on an old bench at the
farther end of the out-house, with his back turned towards us, his arms
resting on a barrel, and his head bowed down upon them. He neither spoke
nor moved.

Charles left him, and came towards us, and he and the inspector spoke
apart for a moment, and then the latter dropped on his knees beside the
dead woman, and, after looking carefully at a dark stain on one of the
wrists, turned back the sleeve. Crushed deep into the round white arm
gleamed something bright. It was an emerald bracelet which we both knew.
Charles cast a hasty glance at Ralph, but he had not moved, and he drew
me beside him, so as to interpose our two figures between him and the
inspector. The latter quietly turned down the sleeve and recomposed the
arm.

"I knew she would have them on her, if she had them at all," he said, in
a low voice. "We need look no farther at present. Not one will be
missing. They are all there."

He gazed long and earnestly at the dead face, and then to my horror he
suddenly unfastened the little hat. I made an involuntary movement as if
to stop him, but Charles laid an iron grip upon me, and motioned to me
to be still. The stealthy hand quietly pushed back the fair curls upon
the forehead, and in another moment they fell still farther back,
showing a few short locks of dark hair beneath them, which so completely
altered the dead face that I could hardly recognize it as belonging to
the same person. The inspector raised his head, and looked significantly
at Charles. Then he quietly drew forward the yellow hair over the
forehead again, replaced the hat, and rose to his feet. Charles and I
glanced apprehensively at Ralph, but he had not stirred. As we looked, a
hurried step came across the yard, a hand raised the latch of the door,
and some one entered abruptly. It was Carr. For one moment he stood in
the door-way, for one moment his eyes rested horror-struck on the dead
woman, then darted at us, from us to the inspector, who was coolly
watching him, and--he was gone! gone as suddenly as he had come; gone
swiftly out again into the falling snow, followed by the wild barking of
the dog.

Charles, who had had his back to the door, turned in time to see him,
and he made a rush for the door, but the inspector flung himself in his
way, and held him forcibly.

"Let me go! Let me get at him!" panted Charles, struggling furiously.

"I shall do no such thin