I sat there listening with open mouth. Why? Because I knew where one of those curious knives had been--one with a carved handle of cracked, yellow ivory. I had often taken it up and looked at the coat of arms carved upon the ivory--the shield with the six balls of the princely house of the Medici. "And in your opinion, doctor, the deceased came by her death from a blow from such a weapon as you describe?" the coroner was asking. "That is my firm opinion. The wound penetrated to the heart, and death was probably almost instantaneous." "Would she utter a cry?" "I think she would." "And yet no one seems to have heard any noise!" remarked the coroner. "Is that so?" he asked, turning to the police inspector. "We have no evidence of any cry being heard," replied the officer. "I purposely asked the other tenants of the flats above and below. But they heard no unusual sound." One of the detective-sergeants was then called; Inspector Edwards, though present, being purposely omitted. In reply to the coroner, he described the finding of the body, its examination, and the investigation which ensued. "I need not ask you if you have any clue to the assassin," said the coroner, when he had concluded writing down the depositions. "I presume you are actively prosecuting inquiries?" "Yes, sir," was the brief response. "I think, gentlemen," the coroner said, turning at last to the jury, "that we can go no further with this inquiry to-day. We must leave it for the police to investigate, and if we adjourn, let us say for a fortnight, we may then, I hope, have evidence of identification before us. The case certainly presents a number of curious features, not the least being the fact that the owner of the flat has mysteriously fled. When he is found he will, no doubt, throw some light upon the puzzling affair. I have to thank you for your attendance to-day, gentlemen," he added, addressing the dozen respectable householders, "and ask you to be present again this day fortnight--at noon." There was evident dissatisfaction among the jury, as there is always when a coroner's inquest is ever adjourned. It is certainly the reverse of pleasant to be compelled to keep an appointment which may mean considerable out-of-pocket expense and much personal inconvenience. One juror, indeed, raised an objection, as he had to go to do business in Scotland. Whereupon the coroner, as he rose, expressed his regret but declared himself unable to assist him. It was, he remarked, his duty as a citizen to assist in this inquiry, and to arrive at a verdict. After that the court rose, and every one broke up into small groups to discuss the strange affair of which the Press were at present in ignorance. Edwards had crossed the room and was speaking to me. But I heard him not. I was thinking of that triangular-bladed weapon--the "misericordia" of the middle ages--so frequently used for stealthy knife-thrusts.