"I heard no news in particular." Nina held a needle and thread nearer the light. "To what do you refer, Mr. Rodgers?" "To the death of Miss Susan Baird." Potter sat bolt upright. His healthy color changed to a sickly white. "Cousin Susan dead? Impossible!" "It is a fact. Mr. Craige told me--" Rodgers stooped over and picked up the needle which had slipped from Nina's clutch. "Take care you don't prick yourself, Mrs. Potter," he warned, as he placed it in the palm of her hand and noticed the quick, spasmodic movement of her fingers. "The news had just gotten about and every one at the tea was talking of Miss Baird." "That's turning the tables; usually Cousin Susan talked about everybody," Potter remarked, breaking a slight pause. "Why hasn't Kitty telephoned us? I am now her nearest living relative." "She may have tried to reach us," suggested his wife. "I don't suppose Moto answered the telephone in my absence; he hates it. Did you hear it ring, Ben?" "No," shortly. "I can't say I grieve over your news, Ted. I have always resented Cousin Susan's treatment of Kitty. Made the girl slave for her, the venomous old scandal-monger." "Ben!" Nina's shocked tone caused her husband to pause in his rapid speech. "Did you hear, Mr. Rodgers, the cause of Cousin Susan's death?" "Bit her tongue and died from blood-poisoning," growled Potter, before Rodgers could answer. "Ben!" "Well, all right, dear; I'll say no more. But," in self-defense, noting Rodgers' surprise, "I've had no cause to love Cousin Susan-- I heard her caustic remarks about my marriage. Never mind that now," with a quick glance at his wife. "Go ahead, Ted, tell us of what Cousin Susan died." "The coroner will have to answer that question, Ben." "The coroner!" Potter rose to his feet and stared at his guest. "What d'ye mean? Oh, hurry your speech, man; don't keep us in suspense," as Rodgers hesitated and eyed Mrs. Potter in some trepidation. Judging from her sudden loss of color, she was about to faint. "Your cousin was found dead," he said, and got no further. "Found dead--where?" demanded Mrs. Potter, breathlessly. "In her library." Potter broke the pause. "Go ahead and tell us what you know, Ted." He reseated himself. "Give us every detail." Rodgers shook his head. "I know very little on the subject," he said. "I stopped on the way here and telephoned to 'Rose Hill,' but could get no response; so I came right here supposing you could tell me further news. I thought Miss Kitty might be with you." "We have not seen Kitty since early this morning," answered Nina. "Who found Cousin Susan?" Rodgers, his ear trained to detect variations in the human voice, observed a faint huskiness in the usual soft tones. "I do not know, Mrs. Potter," he said. "Miss Baird was so well-known in Washington that her death was commented on at the tea, and I only heard a garbled account of what occurred. Perhaps there might be something in the evening paper."