“She brought it from Chicago. On our little trips to Boston and Washington we used my leather one.” “Then this trunk has been there all the while?” “Yes.” “Think now—have you ever known Lillian to enter that closet for anything since she came to you?” Joe turned white. “She might have done so dozens of times.” “But have you known her to?” “I have not.” “Is there anything kept there she would want?” “Not that I know of.” “Under the circumstances does it not strike you as singular that she should not only enter the closet but lock it and take the key upstairs?” “Eric, I have thought so myself,” sadly. “Now, Joe, you are withholding something from me that has a bearing on this matter.” “How do you know it?” quickly. “Well, perhaps a little bird told me, or else I read the secret in your face. At any rate you have no business to keep it from me, I am trying to do my duty—heaven knows if I could I would have your wife as spotless as the noonday sky, and if she proves otherwise I shall lose faith in all womankind forever; but I must be able to weigh every particle of evidence for and against her.” “I beg your pardon, Eric, but I felt so badly over the circumstance that I hardly had the heart to relate it to you.” “Then it is against her?” “I am afraid so.” “The sky grows very black—poor Joe—poor Lillian—my heart is in sympathy with you.” Joe had buried his face in his hands and seemed quite overcome. The detective waited. When his friend had in a measure recovered from the shock, he spoke. “Now tell me the circumstances.” Joe’s voice was a little unsteady, but it gained strength as he proceeded: “When I came down this morning it was late for me, but I had not slept well, and felt a raging headache. “Lillian was in the library, and left me to go down to see if she could not have a cup of strong tea made, which always acts as a sedative with me when I have a headache. “My thoughts had never gone from that closet and I had already seen that the key was in the door for Lillian had brought it down. “Hardly had she left the room than I was over there and had the door open. “I examined the interior but found it all as I had been in the habit of seeing it. “This surprised me. Could I after all have done her an injustice with my suspicions? “I was beginning to think so, when I suddenly noticed a little thing. “The key of her Saratoga trunk was missing. “I remembered seeing it in the trunk a few weeks before. “Why should Lillian take it? “Instinctively I tried the lid—it was fast—the trunk was locked. “I left the closet, and was sitting in the library when the breakfast bell rang, and Lillian came in to go down with me. “She was full of spirits, while I felt as though I were about to attend my own funeral. “During the progress of the meal I spoke about there being a chance of our soon going out to Chicago to pay a visit, and she seemed to be very quiet over it, unusually so, I believed.