"In the first place, Jim was much less positive as to the supposed identity of the deceased than Joe was. You admit that; consequently, I consider Joe's word in this case better than Jim's, and Mrs. Atkins is certainly a more reliable witness than Mrs. Mulroy, an Irish charwoman, with all her national love of a sensational story." "That is all very fine," said Mr. Merritt, "but Mrs. Atkins emphatically denied knowing the deceased." "In words, yes; but don't you think this is one of the cases where actions speak louder than words? By the way, I gather from your still being willing to discuss the corpse's identity that you have not been able to trace this mysterious Brown?" "You are right. The only thing we have found out is, that the berth on the Boston train which was bought in his name was never occupied." "And yet, in the face of all this, you still think of arresting Miss Derwent; of blighting a girl's life in such a wanton manner?" "Doctor, you're right; I may have been hasty. Mrs. Greywood, the young man's mother, arrives to-morrow, and her testimony will be decisive. Should the body not be that of her son (and you have almost convinced me that it is not), then Miss Derwent's affairs are of no further interest to me, and who she may, or may not, entertain in her apartment it is not my business to inquire." After a little more desultory talk, I left him to his morning paper. I was now more than ever determined to do a little work in his line myself, and felt quite sure that talent of a superior order lay dormant within me. Only the great difficulty was to know where to begin. I must get nearer the scene of the tragedy, I concluded; I must cultivate McGorry and be able to prowl around the Rosemere undisturbed. What a triumph if I should discover the missing hat, for instance!