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54 made as comfortable as possible Titheredge announced that he must go to his office. Gene had taken the first opportunity to retire once more to his room; and the detective went down alone to the hall, where he came upon Miss Meade in the drawing-room doorway.

"You are feeling better?" he asked courteously. "I am sorry that my presence here startled you so this morning."

"I am glad that you are here," she replied. "I have been waiting until you had finished with my brother-in-law, for I want to talk to you; that is, if you can spare the time just now."

She added the last few words in a deprecating manner, which he realized must be an habitual one with her, as if all her life she had been kept in the background, set aside. She seemed not a looker-on but a mere shadow of those of stronger personality about her.

"I have been anxious for this opportunity myself, Miss Meade," he assured her. "I want to know a great many things which only you can tell me, if you feel strong enough. It will be painful to you, I am afraid, for I must touch on your double sorrow of the last month, but my only motive is to discover the truth."

"Come in and be seated, please." She led the way into the drawing-room and motioned toward a chair. "Tell me first of all, Sergeant Odell, is it true that attempts were actually made upon the lives of my nephew and my brother-in-law? I—I saw where the stairs had been deliberately cut through, of course, and yet I cannot seem to realize it. It is the total absence of motive which makes it all seem like some frightful dream."

"Nevertheless it is stern reality, Miss Meade."