No material advantage could be gained by speaking of the former interview between them. He had drawn his own conclusions from it, and it was abundantly clear to him she wished that interview ignored. Now that he was once more under the spell of her presence, he felt his interest in her case rekindle, and the charm of her beauty reasserting itself. One thing, however, must be spoken of. It was absolutely necessary he should say something of the note he had written her last evening. He waited for a pause, or rather caused a pause in the conversation, for she volunteered nothing. "Having found this Jermyn Street address in the pocket-book of Mr. Davenport, I sent a few lines to you yesterday evening in the hope they might reach you. Did you get them?" This question seemed to arouse her attention. She clasped her hands in her lap, and, turning her face fully towards him, answered: "Yes; I got your note and the extract from the pocket-book also." She seemed perfectly cool and collected. "It would be well if you would tell me anything you know about that entry on the leaf of the pocket-book. It has a terrible significance in the case." Her calmness now astonished him. He had the evening before been prepared for an explosion. He had expected to find her completely broken down, or in a state of high nervous excitement to-day. Up to this she had been listless; now she was attentive and mute. Her face looked paler than yesterday, but he could not say whether this was owing to its own loss of colour or to the effect of the white cap or the crape round her throat. He waited a moment with a view to giving weight to his next question. It was: "With regard to the memorandum made by Mr. Davenport, is there anything you would like to say to me? In the face of that memorandum, you of course know that Mr. Blake's presence will be essential at the--inquiry." "I suppose so," she said, unmoved. She replied to the latter part of his speech first. "With regard to the entry in his pocket-book, it is right you should know that my late husband was at one time subject to hallucinations, delusions." "And you think this writing of his may have been the result of a delusion or hallucination?" "It is quite possible; I can explain it in no other way." "Oh, this is a great relief! I did not know he was subject to hallucinations. This is a most important fact. What was the nature of the delusion under which he suffered?" Up to this point Pringle had felt in despair. Now his interest and courage rose. "He fancied people had formed a conspiracy against him, and that their design was to rob him first and then murder him." Her enunciation was particularly distinct, her face impassible. "This is most vital," he said. "Indeed it may explain much that now sorely needs explanation. You no doubt often had the opportunity of seeing him labouring under these ailments?" "No--never. He has not had an attack since we were married."