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feeling a little weary to…night … the strain of the inquest；〃 she； added in
explanation。
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〃Perhaps you would rather sit out the dance；〃 he suggested。 〃There is
an alcove in that window； oh； pshaw！〃 as a man and a girl took possession
of the chairs。
〃Never mind； we can roost on the stairs；〃 Mrs。 Brewster preceded
him to the staircase leading to the third floor； and sat down； bracing her
back very comfortably against the railing； while Kent seated himself at her
feet on the lower step。 〃Extraordinary developments at the inquest this
afternoon；〃 he began； as she volunteered no remark。 〃To think of Jimmie
Turnbull being poisoned！〃
〃It is unbelievable；〃 she said； and her vehemence was a surprise to
Kent； he knew her as all froth and bubble。 What had brought the dark
circles under her eyes and the unwonted seriousness in her manner？
〃Unbelievable； yes；〃 he agreed gravely。 〃But true； the autopsy ended
all doubt。〃
〃You mean it developed doubt；〃 she corrected； and a sigh accompanied
the words。 〃Have the police any clew to the guilty man？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 Kent spoke with caution。
〃You don't？〃 Her voice was a little sharp。 〃Didn't Detective
Ferguson give you any news when talking to you on the porch？〃
〃So you recognized the detective？〃
〃I？ No； I have never seen him before〃 … she nodded gayly to an
acquaintance passing through the hall。 〃Colonel McIntyre told me his
name。 It was so odd to meet a man here not in evening clothes that I had
to ask who he was。〃
〃Ferguson came to bring me some papers about a personal matter；〃
explained Kent。 He turned so as to face her。 〃Did you see a white
envelope lying on the table when you walked out on the porch？〃
She bowed her head absently； her foot keeping time to the inspiring
music played by the orchestra stationed on the stair landing just above
where they sat。 〃You left it lying on the table。〃
〃Yes； so I did；〃 replied Kent。 〃And I believe I was so ungallant as to
bolt into the dining room in front of you。 Please accept my apologies。〃
Behind her fan； which she used with languid grace； the widow watched
him。
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〃We all bolted together；〃 she responded； 〃and are equally guilty …〃
〃Of what？〃 questioned a voice from the background； and looking up
Kent saw Colonel McIntyre standing on the step above Mrs。 Brewster。 The
music had ceased and in the lull their conversation had been distinctly
audible。
〃Guilty of curiosity；〃 finished the widow。
〃Colonel de Geofroy's farewell speech was very amusing； did you not
think so？〃
〃I did not stay to hear it；〃 Kent confessed。 〃I had to return to the
porch and get my envelope。〃
〃You were a long time about it；〃 commented McIntyre； sitting down
by Mrs。 Brewster and possessing himself of her fan。 〃I waited to tell you
that Helen and Barbara were worn out after the inquest and so stayed at
home to…night； but you didn't show up。〃
〃Neither did the envelope；〃 retorted Kent； and as his companions
looked at him； he added。 〃It had disappeared off the table。〃
〃Probably blew away；〃 suggested McIntyre。 〃I noticed a strong
current of air from the dining room； and two of the windows inclosing the
porch were open。
〃That's hardly possible；〃 Kent replied skeptically。 〃The envelope
weighed at least two ounces； it would have taken quite a gale to budge it。〃
McIntyre turned red。 〃Are you insinuating that one of us walked off
with your envelope； Kent？〃 he demanded angrily。 Mrs。 Brewster stayed
him as he was about to rise。
〃Did you not say that Detective Ferguson brought you the envelope；
Mr。 Kent？〃 she asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Then what more likely than that he carried it off again？〃 She smiled
amusedly as Kent's expression altered。 〃Why not ask the detective？〃
Her suggestion held a grain of truth。 Suppose Ferguson had not
believed his statement that the papers in the envelope were his personal
property and had taken the envelope away to examine it at his leisure？
The thought brought Kent to his feet。
〃Good night； Mrs。 Sherlock Holmes；〃 he said jestingly； 〃I'll follow
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your advice … There was no opportunity to say more； for several men had
discovered the widow's perch on the stairs and came to claim their dances。
Over their heads McIntyre watched Kent stride downstairs； then stooping
over he picked up Mrs。 Brewster's fan and sat down to patiently await her
return。
Kent's pursuit of the detective took longer than he had anticipated； and
it was after midnight before he finally located him at the office of the
Chief of Detectives in the District Building。 〃I've called for the envelope
you took from my safe early this evening；〃 he began without preface；
hardly waiting for the latter's surprised greeting。
〃Why； Mr。 Kent； I left it lying on the porch table at the club；〃 declared
Ferguson。 〃Didn't you take it？〃
〃No。〃 Kent's worried expression returned。 〃Like a fool I forgot the
envelope when that cheering broke out in the dining room and rushed to
find out what it was about； when I returned to the porch the envelope was
gone。
〃Disappeared？〃 questioned Ferguson in astonishment。
〃Disappeared absolutely； I searched the porch thoroughly and couldn't
find a trace of it；〃 Kent explained。 〃And in spite of McIntyre's
contention that it might have blown out of the window； I am certain it did
not。〃
〃The windows were open； and I recollect there was a strong draught；〃
remarked Ferguson thoughtfully。 〃But not sufficient to carry away that
envelope。〃
〃Exactly。〃 Kent stepped closer。 〃Did you observe which one of our
companions stood nearest the porch table？〃
Ferguson eyed him curiously。 〃Say； are you insinuating that one of
those