"She certainly appears to be," said he, "and yet I am positive she spoke but an instant ago; I can even tell you the words she used." "What were they?" asked the spinster, with something like a look of concern. "She said: 'Was it Clemmens or was it Orcutt? Clemmens or Orcutt? I cannot remember.'" "You don't say so! Poor ma! She was dreaming. Come into the other room and I will explain." And leading the way back to the apartment they had left, she motioned him again toward a chair, and then said: "Ma has always been a very hale and active woman for her years; but this murder seems to have shaken her. To speak the truth, sir, she has not been quite right in her mind since the day I told her of it; and I often detect her murmuring words similar to those you have just heard." "Humph! And does she often use his name?" "Whose name?" "Mr. Orcutt's." "Why, yes; but not with any understanding of whom she is speaking." "Are you _sure_?" inquired Mr. Gryce, with that peculiar impressiveness he used on great occasions. "What do you mean?" "I mean," returned the detective, dryly, "that I believe your mother does know what she is talking about when she links the name of Mr. Orcutt with that of your cousin who was murdered. They belong together; Mr. Orcutt was her murderer." "_Mr. Orcutt?_" "Hush!" cried Mr. Gryce, "you will wake up your mother." And, adapting himself to this emergency as to all others, he talked with the astounded and incredulous woman before him till she was in a condition not only to listen to his explanations, but to discuss the problem of a crime so seemingly without motive. He then said, with easy assurance: "Your mother does not know that Mr. Orcutt is dead?" "No, sir." "She does not even know he was counsel for Craik Mansell in the trial now going on." "How do you know that?" inquired Miss Firman, grimly. "Because I do not believe you have even told her that Craik Mansell was on trial." "Sir, you are a magician." "Have you, madam?" "No, sir, I have not." "Very good; what _does_ she know about Mr. Orcutt, then; and why should she connect his name with Mrs. Clemmens?" "She knows he was her boarder, and that he was the first one to discover she had been murdered." "That is not enough to account for her frequent repetition of his name." "You think not?" "I am sure not. Cannot your mother have some memories connected with his name of which you are ignorant?" "No, sir; we have lived together in this house for twenty-five years, and have never had a thought we have not shared together. Ma could not have known any thing about him or Mary Ann which I did not. The words she has just spoken sprang from mental confusion. She is almost like a child sometimes." Mr. Gryce smiled. If the cream-jug he happened to be gazing at on a tray near by had been full of cream, I am far from certain it would not have turned sour on the spot.