"Her death, from poison, occurred at or near two o'clock," asserted the Coroner; "the blow on the head was given after life had departed." "Incredible!" said Brunt. "It is, indeed, Inspector. But those are the facts. The heavy blow fractured the skull, but left no bruise or mark, nor was there any blood from the cut scalp. In addition we have the poison found in the system, and the death symptoms of quiet, placid dissolution which are consequent always on that particular poison." "Could it have been self-administered?" asked Brunt. "Not by Miss Carrington," said Doctor Stanton, decidedly. "The lady has been my patient for years, and she had an absolute abhorrence of all sorts of drugs or medicines. She made more fuss over taking a simple powder than a spoiled child. I have often prescribed for her, knowing full well she would not take my prescriptions because of her detestation of taking medicine. When remedies have been really necessary, I have had to administer them while with her, and a difficult task it was. Moreover, my patient was not of the temperament or disposition to seek death for herself, nor had she any reason to do so. No; the case is murder; the poison was administered by some one who wished for her death and deliberately set out to accomplish it,--and succeeded." "Is the action of this poison instantaneous?" asked Brunt. "No; death ensues about a half hour to an hour after the dose is taken into the system." "Then, we gather that the poison was taken in the neighborhood of one o'clock, last night." "Yes," agreed the Coroner, "about one o'clock." "About one o'clock!" whispered Anita, in an awe-struck, gasping way, and her great blue eyes stared dazedly into the dark ones of Pauline. VII THE INQUEST Next morning the inquest was proceeding. The great living-room at Garden Steps was crowded with listeners, drawn hither by sympathy, interest or curiosity. And each class found ample to satisfy its motive. The mere fact of being within that exclusive home, within those heretofore inaccessible doors, was enough to thrill and delight many, and observation and scrutiny were as well repaid as was the listening to the astounding revelations that were poured into their ears. Coroner Scofield's jury was composed of intelligent men, who were eagerly receptive to the appalling facts narrated to them and the curiously bizarre bits of evidence that became known as the witnesses were questioned.