Page:Richard Marsh--The goddess a demon.djvu/138

126 of yours; but I don't mind informing you that she suffers from hallucinations."

"Hallucinations? Oh, they're hallucinations, are they?"

There was something in his tone for which I could have knocked him down. He spoke to her across the room.

"What is your name?"

"My name? I don't know what my name is."

"Not know your name? Come, that won't do. Tell me what your name is."

"The lady does not know her name; do you not hear her say so? You will doubt the lady's word, Mr. Symonds, at your peril."

"Remove your hand; do you wish to dislocate my shoulder? You forget your own strength, as well as other things, Mr. Ferguson. If you will not tell me who this lady is, and she herself cannot, then I must detain her till inquiries have been made."

"Detain her? What do you mean?"

"This lady has forced her way into this room, and I have myself heard her, with my own ears, accuse herself, at least, of participation in the murder of this unfortunate man."

His colleague chimed in: "There can be no sort of doubt upon that point. I heard her too. She said, 'I killed him.'"