"I cannot go that far," he said slowly, at last. "And yet--and yet--it may be that you've hit upon the clue, Mr. Lester. I must have time to think it over. Will you come to see me this evening?" "Gladly," I said; "I only hope I can be of service." "Thank you. I shall look for you between seven and eight. It may be that I shall have something to tell you." I watched him as he left the room, with a curious mixture of emotions. What was it he would have to tell me? Who was it was insane? Was it---- And suddenly I seemed to catch a glimmer of the truth; I felt that, however slowly and uncertainly, I was at last groping toward the light. CHAPTER XXI Cross-Purposes Godfrey was waiting for me at the desk, and I felt him glance at me keenly as I announced my readiness to accompany him. "We'll go up to the Kingdon place," he said, "and see if the coroner has made any discoveries. The clerk told me you had a visitor," he added, as we reached the street. "A client," I answered, with forced jocularity. "A clergyman in need of legal advice." "I thought I recognised him as he came out. It was Dr. Schuyler, wasn't it?" "Yes." He glanced at me again, and then walked on in silence; but I felt the reproach he did not utter. "He's in trouble of some kind," I explained. "Connected with this affair?" "I think so. But I don't want it blazed forth in the _Record_ till I'm sure." "The _Record_ doesn't blaze forth everything I know," he said quietly. "I know it doesn't, but you'd give it this--it would have a right to this." "Is it so important as all that?" "I rather fancy it's the clue we've been looking for." His eyes were shining now as he looked at me. "That _is_ important," he said. "I should like to have it." "I'm not absolutely sure," I said, again. "But I'm going to see him again this evening. If there's anything I can tell you after that, I will." "That's fair enough," he assented. "The story, whatever it is, is bound to be public property in a few days, I suppose?" "It will probably come out at the inquest. When is the inquest?" "It's been set for to-morrow; but it will probably be held open until Lucy Kingdon can testify." "You'll beat the world a day, then." "That's what I like to do. But here we are, and there's Haynes at the door." We entered the yard, and Godfrey introduced me to the coroner. He impressed me at once as alert and efficient, and he led the way into the house, and asked that I tell him the story of the night before, which I did as circumstantially as I could. "I hope your wound isn't a bad one," he said, when I had finished, glancing at my bandaged hand. "Oh, no," I said; "a mere scratch. To tell the truth, I'd nearly forgotten it." "Here's the weapon the bullet came from," he added, and produced from his pocket a small, pearl-handled revolver. "There are two chambers empty. The other bullet flew straighter than the one fired at you, Mr. Lester." "You mean----"