“Did you ever suspect the relationship of your husband to Mr. Wing prior to the eleventh of this month, when you saw this paper?” “I did not.” “Would a knowledge of that relationship, if you had known it while he was living, have changed in any way your feeling towards Mr. Wing?” The witness paused as if she would question her own heart before answering, and the coroner waited patiently, with apparent understanding of the need. A hush fell on the room, like that which had followed the reading of the remarkable paper. Then Mrs. Parlin looked directly at the coroner and answered distinctly and without a tremor in her voice: “I think it would.” “Thank you,” said the coroner. “I am sorry if I have in any way disturbed you unnecessarily in this examination. I know that you believe I have aimed simply at my duty.” CHAPTER III Alive at Midnight An hour after the close of the day’s session, Mrs. Parlin was in her sitting room, with the door closed and the shades lowered. On the opposite side of the small light-stand sat a rather undersized man, plainly dressed, and of somewhat insignificant aspect. Distinctly, the woman in her was disappointed. “I have sent for you, Mr. Trafford,” she said, slowly and apparently reluctantly, “because both my husband and Theodore--Mr. Wing--had the utmost confidence in your ability. I want you to find Mr. Wing’s murderer. It’s not a matter of cost--I simply want him found.” As she spoke, she gathered confidence, and the tone of her final words almost evidenced a belief that he could do what she asked. She stopped speaking, and the insignificance of the man’s appearance was again more real to her and sent a chill over her earnestness. “If you entrust the case to me,” he said, in a tone singularly winning for a man in his station and of his personal appearance, “I shall do my best to sustain the confidence Judge Parlin and Mr. Wing gave me; but let me warn you, in my profession there is no royal road. I have no instinct that enables me to scent a murderer or other criminal. I reach results by hard work, close attention to details, and perseverance. I make it a condition of undertaking any case that nothing shall be concealed from me. I must start with at least the knowledge that my principal possesses.” “I’ve told everything to the coroner. If I’m not mistaken, you’ve heard the testimony.” She spoke with dignity, almost with hostility, in her voice. “I heard the testimony,” he said, “but are you sure you’ve told everything? There’s sometimes things that we know which aren’t facts--that is, not facts as the term is understood when one is giving testimony.” “For instance?” “You have impressions of what led up to this tragedy.” There was nothing of question in his tone. It was as if he stated what was indisputable.