Part 57 (2/2)
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Another, Miss Wardour, is--yourself.”]
”Myself!”
She bows her face upon her hands, and convulsive shudders shake her form. She sits thus so long that O'Meara becomes restless, but Mr.
Wedron sits calm, serene, expectant.
By and by she lifts her head, and her eyes s.h.i.+ne with the glint of blue steel.
”You are right, sir,” she says in a low, steady voice. ”I _can_ tell more than is known. It may not benefit Doctor Heath; I do not see how it can. Nevertheless, all that I can tell you shall hear, and I only ask that you will respect such portions of my story as are not needed in evidence. As for Mr. O'Meara, I know I can trust him. And I believe, sir, that I can rely upon you.”
Mr. Wedron bows gravely.
”I will begin by saying that Mr. Vandyck, if he has withheld anything concerning Doctor Heath, has acted honorably in so doing. He was bound by a promise, from which I shall at once release him.”
In obedience to a sign from Mr. Wedron, O'Meara prepares to write.
”You have said, sir,” addressing Mr. Wedron, ”that I may be able to say something which, if withheld, would complicate this case. What do you wish to hear?”
”Every thing, Miss Wardour, every thing. All that you can tell concerning your acquaintance with Clifford Heath--all that you have seen and know concerning John Burrill; all that you can recall of the sayings and doings of the Lamottes. And remember, the things that may seem unimportant or irrelevant to you, may be the very items that we lack to complete what may be a chain of strong evidence in favor of the accused.
Allow me to question you from time to time, and, if I seem possessed of too much information concerning your private affairs, do not be too greatly astonished, but rest a.s.sured that all my researches have been made to serve another, not to gratify myself.”
”Where shall I begin, sir?”
”Begin where the first shadow of complication fell; begin at the first word or deed of Doctor Heath's that struck you as being in any way strange or peculiar.”
She flushes hotly and begins her story.
She describes her first impression of Doctor Heath, touching lightly upon their acquaintance previous to the time of the robbery at Wardour.
Then she describes, very minutely, the first call made by Doctor Heath, after that affair.
”One moment, Miss Wardour, you told Doctor Heath all that you knew concerning the robbery.”
”I did, sir;” coloring rosily.
”And you exhibited to him the vial of chloroform and the piece of cambric?”
”I did.”
”At this point you were interrupted by callers, and Doctor Heath left rather abruptly?”
”Precisely, sir.”
”Who were these callers?”
”Mr. Lamotte and his son.”
”Had you any reason for thinking that Doctor Heath purposely avoided a meeting with these gentlemen?”
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