The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-25

CHAPTER XIII.

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TIER IADYsfiIP, SIR JAFFRAYi"
For some time after the police in
spector's departure neither Sir Jaffray
nor Beryl spoke a word, both being
overcome with astonishment at the
hints which Inspector Borderham had
dropped.
Beryl was the first to speak and
Enthusiastically took the blame upon
herself.
sit is my fault" she said. "Oh,
Jaffray, I am 80 sorryI'
"No, no, Beryl; can't let you blame
yourself. I ought to have seen what
would certainly happen, though, now
that it has happened, I am bound to
say am taken absolutely by surprise.
Who can possibly have noticed that the
things were absent for time anu snen
put back? At most there can only have
been few hours during which they
could be missed. ] wonderr "a. cried
and then stopped and exclaimed, "That
is too dreadful a thoughtP'
"What is that?" asked Beryl anx-
iously.
| Scan it be possible that any one can
have seen Lola take that dagger out of
+! the cabinet?'
II had not Thought Of that. It can't
be possible Even if she did take it she
would be cautious not to DO seen."
"Ifr' he repeated. "If! wish with
all my heart I could feel that If. What
fear is that in the frenzy in which she
| must have acted she would be utterly
| needless Of anything and anybody and
not give thought to the question
whether she was seen or not. But that
is not the point now. am mad with
myself for ever having brought your
name into this most miserable affair.
The thing has been bruited all over the
kingdom now, and to draw back seems
as difficult as to 60 on"
"Why not go through with it," asked
Beryl firmly.
impossibility. So long as there was no
question asked and the weapons re-
NAMED to speak for themselves there
was no serious responsibility. Heaven
knows l had no intention Of doing any
thing wrong. know your object,
Beryl, well enough, and cannot tell
you how inexpressibly grateful am to
You for it, but we have been wrong
We have tried to set the honor Of our
family before tho truth, and now we see
the result. have tried to shield my
poor, misguided wife, and I've sacrificed
you instead. I've been miserably selfish
just when I ought to have been most
careful to guard you.
II think you blame yourself without
cause, Jaffray. I am not one bit ashamed
Of what l have done. would stand up
tomorrow in tho face of all England and
tell what ! did, and, what is more,
would do it again tomorrow, and
don't believe the bulk Of people would
blame me. If they did, should not
care" she added, flushing in her enthu-
siasm, ''if had helped you"
Spoken like my dear, dear old friend
and playmate, Beryl," he said, taking
her hand and pressing it. "You brace
ones faith in human nature, and be-
lieve with you that the world would
not blame you for what has happened,
but that would only make my response
bility the greater. But now there is no
use in regretting. must find out what
we can do"
"Do you think really that Mr.. Bor-
derham has had that letter."
"Unquestionably do, and, what is
more, he means us to understand that
he will act upon it if make it neces-
sary for him. will 60 to the inquest
and hear what transpires, and then /
will have talk with Clifford. l must
speak plainly to him."
"He knows" said Beryl.
"How do you mean?" asked the bar
onet quickly.
Beryl told him what Mr.. Clifford had
said to her about the absence of dust on
the dagger aud the significant way he
had spoken.
Sir Jaffray listened with a gathering
frown Of regret and annoyance.
"Borderham may have suspected it
even them he said. "Those men don't
carry about faces like open books. III
speak to Clifford and see what happens
at the inquest. Meantime try to think i
am really and honestly troubled to have
brought this on YOU.
He stood for moment near her, as
if going to say more, and Bery], think
ing this, did not reply. but he said
nothing. and at the close CT somewhat
embarrassed pause he went out Of the
room, just turning by the door to smile |
to her.
She was little puzzled by his con-
duct, and with frown Of perplexity on
her forehead she sat for minute or
two thinking Of it all. Then she smiled
to herself very slightly and murmured:
"I'm glad I did 1t. Whatever happens
they can't do anything very dreadful to
me, and Jatfray must see did it for his
sake" Then she went up stairs to Lady
Walcote's rooms.
AT the inquest everything went as
Inspector Borderham had anticipated
He offered just such evidence as he
thought necessary, and the coroner
summed up the case on the evidence
presented. One iuryman was disposed
to question the desirability of not going
into more of the facts, but the other II,
who had been drawn carefully from the
Walcote estates, took their cue from the
foreman and declared themselves per-
fectly satisfied and gave their verdict
in the exact terms the inspector had
prophesied that they would.
"And now" said the inspector to
Mr.. Clifford and Sir Jaffray when it
was all over and the courtroom was
fast-''now begins the serious
business of the investigation.
you've had some anonymous letter,
I hear, about the weapon, said Mr..
Clifford, to whom the baronet had al
ready spoken. do you mind my see-
ing it?''
mot in the least. Here it is And
no produced it. "You see the sugges.
zion, he said pointedly.
"And most monstrous one it is"
exclaimed Mr.. Clifford, "a most mon
'trous one l suppose you haven't a
ghost of an idea who wrote this!'
"If had, am afraid could hardly