Doctor: No; the stiletto was long, and as the body was lying in a lower compartment, he could not have lifted the stiletto high enough to have driven it so deeply, without knocking his hand against the bottom of the top berth. Captain: If he had managed to do so, would there be any bruise or mark on his hand? Doctor: I should say very likely; but I did not discover any. Captain: Was there much blood? Doctor: Very little; the stiletto had been driven into the heart and left there, so comparatively little blood could ooze out. This closed the evidence of the doctor, and then Ronald Monteith stepped forward and told the jury the story of the deceased. Captain: You say the deceased expected to be killed by his wife? Monteith: He told me so several times. Captain: And did he ever say he would commit suicide? Monteith: He distinctly denied having any such intention. Captain: When did you see him last? Monteith: At half-past eight last night; he said he would go to bed early. Captain: Was he excited in any way? Monteith: No; just the same as usual. Captain: If your theory is correct, and the deceased was murdered by his wife, as he expected to be, do you think she came on board at Valletta? Monteith: Yes; I am sure of it. (Sensation.) Captain: Will you give us your reasons? Monteith: The deceased saw his wife in Malta, and she recognised him. When he left me at half-past eight to go to his cabin, there was a number of strangers on board; if his wife were on board, she could easily have followed him to his cabin and killed him. Captain: But she would not know the number of his cabin? Monteith: Yes, she would. He asked me to see him in the morning, and told me the number of his cabin twice; the second time he spoke so loudly, that anyone could have heard, and immediately afterwards went away. Captain: Then you think the crime was committed before the sailing of the ship? Monteith: I can't say; if, as the doctor says, the deceased had been dead for nine hours, this would bring the time of the commission of the crime to nine o'clock last night, at which time the ship sailed. The captain asked Monteith a few other questions, and then the inquest was adjourned till the next morning. CHAPTER IV. THE NEW PASSENGERS. When the inquest had been adjourned, and the excited passengers were assembled in saloon and smoking-rooms giving their ideas on the subject, Ronald Monteith, at the captain's request, remained to talk over things. "It is a curious case altogether," said Captain Templeton, sitting back in his chair. "I never knew of such a thing to occur aboard one of our steamers before, and your story is a strange one." "It is, rather," assented the Australian, pulling moodily at his mustache; "but I think it is true. Poor Ventin told me it only too bitterly to leave any doubt in my mind as to his veracity." The captain took up the stiletto, which still lay on the table, and looked at it thoughtfully.