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212 avail in a case of this sort, and where no possible motive appears—"

"But that is just it," Miss Risby interrupted him. "I am afraid that what I have to tell you will seem to establish a motive, yet I must speak. On the day before the episode of which I have just told you Miss Brown had a sore throat, and I assumed her duties as well as my own; Mrs. Lorne was not then so critically ill, you know. In the afternoon she was resting easily, and I thought it safe to take a nap if I remained within call. I went to the day bed in the boudoir and fell asleep almost at once, but was awakened by the sound of my patient's voice raised in shrill anger.

"I started up to go to her, my first thought being to curb her excitement, but when I heard Mr. Lorne's voice I hesitated. I did not mean to listen, but after the first few words I decided that it would save them from embarrassment if I did not appear; for their argument was about finances and of a most private nature.

"Mr. Lorne was urging his wife to sign some sort of paper which would enable him to sell a certain piece of property in which I gathered she had equal rights; and she vehemently refused. I cannot repeat the exact words; but it was evident that he was in financial straits, and he complained bitterly of his position in practically living on the money she had inherited from her first husband—of whom he spoke in a decidedly uncomplimentary manner—while there remained property of his own which would carry him safely over some crisis in the stock market and turn the tide, if his wife would only sign the document.

"She declared that the property in question was bound to increase in value, and if he had been a fool and got him-