Wellesley suddenly looked up; at the same time he handed back the fragment to the policeman who had passed it to him. "To the best of my belief," he said, turning to the Coroner, "that is certainly part of a handkerchief of mine. The handkerchief is one of a dozen which I bought in Paris about a year ago." A murmur ran round the crowded court at this candid avowal; as it died away the Coroner again spoke: "Had you missed this handkerchief?" "I had not. I have a drawer in my dressing-room full of handkerchiefs--several dozens of them. But--from the texture--I am positive that that is mine." "Very well," said the Coroner. "Now about the evidence of Mr. Walkershaw. Did you know of the door between your house and the Moot Hall?" "Yes! So did the late Mayor. As a matter of fact, he and I, some time ago, had it put to rights. We both used it; I, to go into the Moot Hall; he, to come and see me." "There was no secrecy about it, then?" "Not between Wallingford and myself at any rate." The Coroner took off his spectacles and leaned back in his chair--sure sign that he had done. And Meeking rose, cool, level-voiced. "Dr. Wellesley, I think you heard the evidence of Mrs. Saumarez?" But before Dr. Wellesley could make answer, the other doctors present in the Court-room were suddenly called into action. As the barrister pronounced her name, Mrs. Saumarez collapsed in her seat, fainting. CHAPTER XIII A WOMAN INTERVENES In the midst of the commotion that followed and while Mrs. Saumarez, attended by the doctors, was being carried out of the Court-room, Tansley, at Brent's elbow, drew in his breath with a sharp sibilant sound that came near being a whistle. Brent turned from the withdrawing figures to look at him questioningly. "Well?" he said. "Queer!" muttered Tansley. "Why should she faint? I wonder----" "What?" demanded Brent as the solicitor paused. "I'm wondering if she and Wellesley know anything that they're keeping to themselves," said Tansley. "She was obviously nervous and frightened when she was in that box just now." "She's a nervous, highly-strung woman--so I should say, from what bit I've seen of her," remarked Brent. "Excitable!" "Well, he's cool enough," said Tansley, nodding towards the witness-box. "Hasn't turned a hair! Meeking'll get nothing out of him!" The barrister was again addressing himself to Wellesley, who, after one glance at Mrs. Saumarez as she fainted, had continued, erect and defiant, facing the Court. "You heard Mrs. Saumarez's evidence just now, Dr. Wellesley?" asked Meeking quietly. "I did!" "Was it correct?" "I am not going to discuss it!" "Nor answer any questions arising out of it?" "I am not!" "Perhaps you will answer some questions of mine. Was there any jealousy existing between you and the late John Wallingford, of which Mrs. Saumarez was the cause?" Wellesley hesitated, taking a full minute for evident consideration.