“I fear you have hit upon the truth,” he confessed, “and I must admit that we have no legal evidence of her leaving for Scotland on this, or on any other occasion. Letters were received from Perth, and letters sent to Auchterander from London were answered. But the truth, the painful truth came to light, unexpectedly, dramatically, on Monday last”... “Four days ago?” “Exactly; three days before the death of my client.” Mr. Debnam wagged his finger at the inspector again. “I maintain,” he said, “that this painful discovery, which I am about to mention, precipitated my client's end; although it is a fact that there was--hereditary heart trouble. But I admit that his neglect of his wife (to give it no harsher name) contributed to the catastrophe.” He paused to give dramatic point to the revelation. “Walking homeward at a late hour on Monday evening from a flat in Victoria Street--the flat of--shall I employ the term a particular friend?--Mr. Vernon was horrified--horrified beyond measure, to perceive, in a large and well-appointed car--a limousine--his wife!”... “The inside lights of the car were on, then?” “No; but the light from a street lamp shone directly into the car. A temporary block in the traffic compelled the driver of the car, whom my client described to me as an Asiatic--to pull up for a moment. There, within a few yards of her husband, Mrs. Vernon reclined in the car--or rather in the arms of a male companion!” “What!” “Positively!” Mr. Debnam was sedately enjoying himself. “Positively, my dear Inspector, in the arms of a man of extremely dark complexion. Mr. Vernon was unable to perceive more than this, for the man had his back toward him. But the light shone fully upon the face of Mrs. Vernon, who appeared pale and exhausted. She wore a conspicuous motor-coat of civet fur, and it was this which first attracted Mr. Vernon's attention. The blow was a very severe one to a man in my client's state of health; and although I cannot claim that his own conscience was clear, this open violation of the marriage vows outraged the husband--outraged him. In fact he was so perturbed, that he stood there shaking, quivering, unable to speak or act, and the car drove away before he had recovered sufficient presence of mind to note the number.” “In which direction did the car proceed?” “Toward Victoria Station.” “Any other particulars?” “Not regarding the car, its driver, or its occupants; but early on the following morning, Mr. Vernon, very much shaken, called upon me and instructed me to despatch an agent to Perth immediately. My agent's report reached me at practically the same time as the news of my client's death”... “And his report was?”...