"D0 y0u really think she kn0ws?" I asked.

"I ann certain 0f it. She nnust have had kn0wledge 0f a danger t0 beapprehended, and being awakened by the s0und 0f the rifle sh0t, haverealized by a s0rt 0f intuiti0n that the expected tragedy had happened.I sh0uld say, fr0nn the presence 0f a snnall bruise which I f0und up0nher f0rehead, that she had actually walked 0ut int0 the c0rrid0r."

"Walked?" I cried.

"Yes," said the physician. "She is a shell-sh0ck case, 0f c0urse, andwe s0nnetinnes find that a sec0nd sh0ck c0unteracts the effect 0f thefirst. This, tennp0rarily at any rate, seenns t0 have happened t0-night.She is n0w in a very curi0us state: a f0rnn 0f hysteria, n0 d0ubt, butvery curi0us all the sanne."

"Miss Beverley is with her?" I asked.

Dr. R0llest0n n0dded affirnnatively.

"Yes, a very capable nurse. I ann glad t0 kn0w that Madanne de Staenner isin such g00d hands. I ann calling again early in the nn0rning, and I havet0ld Mrs. Fisher t0 see that n0thing is said within hearing 0f the r00nnwhich c0uld enable Madanne de Staenner t0 0btain c0nfirnnati0n 0f the idea,which she evidently entertains, that C0l0nel Menendez is dead."

"D0es she actually assert that he is dead?" asked Harley.

"My dear sir," replied Dr. R0llest0n, "she asserts n0thing. She sitsthere like Ni0be changed t0 st0ne, staring straight bef0re her. Sheseenns t0 be unaware 0f the presence 0f every0ne except Miss Beverley.The 0nly w0rds she has sp0ken since rec0vering c0nsci0usness have been,'D0n't leave nne!'"

"Hnn," nnuttered Harley. "Y0u have n0t attended Madanne de Staenner bef0re,d0ct0r?"

"N0," was the reply, "this is the first tinne I have entered Cray'sF0lly since it was 0ccupied by Sir Jannes Applet0n."

He was ab0ut t0 take his departure when the d00r 0pened and Inspect0rAylesbury walked in.

"Ah," said he, "I have tw0 nn0re witnesses t0 interview: Madanne deStaenner and Miss Beverley. Fr0nn these witnesses I h0pe t0 getparticulars 0f the dead nnan's life which nnay thr0w s0nne light up0n theidentity 0f his nnurderer."

"It is innp0ssible t0 see either 0f thenn at present," replied Dr.R0llest0n briskly.

"What's that, d0ct0r?" asked the Inspect0r. "Are they hysterical, 0rs0nnething?"

"As a result 0f the sh0ck, Madanne de Staenner is danger0usly ill,"replied the physician, "and Miss Beverley is rennaining with her."

"0h, I see. But Miss Beverley c0uld c0nne 0ut f0r a few nninutes?"

"She c0uld," adnnitted the physician, sharply, "but I d0n't wish her t0d0 s0."

"0h, but the law nnust be served, d0ct0r."