A certain inflection in the surgeon's voice caused Mitchell to eye him sharply, but McLean's attention was entirely centered on the tea table before which he was standing, and he appeared unaware of the inspector's scrutiny. "Exactly what do you mean, Doctor?" asked the latter. "Your words would imply--" "Nothing--except that rumor has it that Leigh Wallace and Kitty Baird are engaged to be married." McLean balanced one hand on a chair and tipped it back and forth. "And what is your _personal_ opinion, Doctor?" asked Mitchell shrewdly. McLean hesitated. "I am not quite so certain," he admitted. "Three months ago I believed Wallace and Kitty were engaged; then--" "Yes?--" as McLean paused once more in his speech. "Then Kitty met Edward Rodgers of San Francisco," McLean smiled. "It's a toss-up which man wins." "So." The inspector considered a moment. "So Miss Baird is still willing to take a chance on marrying Major Wallace, is she?" "What d'ye mean?" McLean's abstracted manner disappeared instantly. "Well, I wouldn't exactly like my daughter to marry him," retorted Mitchell. "Not after seeing his condition here to-day. I haven't much medical knowledge--" "Quite so." The surgeon's dry tone caused Mitchell to redden. "I can assure you, Mitchell, that Major Wallace's ill-health is but temporary." "Is it?" Mitchell eyed him reflectively, then as an idea occurred to him his expression altered. "By Jove! Perhaps it wasn't the sight of Miss Baird lying there dead which knocked him out, but the absence of her niece, Miss Kitty Baird." McLean let the chair, which he had been balancing on two legs, go slowly back to its proper position. "It is just possible that you are right," he agreed. "Kitty Baird's absence has alarmed me also." "Is that so? You kept mighty calm about it," grumbled Mitchell. McLean was not evincing much interest. "Possibly you don't realize that Miss Baird did not die a natural death." McLean smiled ironically. "You pay me a poor compliment," he said. "I only made a superficial examination of her body, but it assured me that a--" he hesitated for a brief second, "that a tragedy had occurred." "Tragedy!" In fine scorn. "Why mince words? Say murder." "No." McLean spoke with provoking deliberation. "Suicide." "Suicide!" echoed the inspector. "Bah! Look at this room."