"A whizz and a whirr, and then the lights came up and there lay Sir Andrew in his chair--dead."
The finale came from Catherine Dowd, who spoke in a low, tense voice, every note of which sounded in that quiet room, and made the atmosphere vibrate with the feeling of it.
The exclamation came from Lady Paula's and Mr. Narkom's lips simultaneously, but from very different causes. For the lady had gone suddenly white as death and fallen back against the wall, both hands pressed to her face and her shoulders shaking.
Maud Duggan hastened to her immediately, while Miss McCall, like the perfectly trained companion she was, produced smelling-salts from the capacious pocket of her blue serge coat-frock, and held it under her mistress's nose. A dose of brandy set the lady to rights, and her Southern emotionalism subsided when she sat down in front of the open window.
She looked up into Cleek's downbent face with wide eyes.
"I am so sorry," she said. "But it brought it all back--so dreadfully--so terribly! Oh, I shall never forget it--never! Miss McCall, my smelling-salts, again, please.... Thank you. Mr. Deland, you have still--much more to proceed with?"
"A good deal, I'm afraid. In the first place, I must tell you that we have discovered one of the weapons--the stiletto which stabbed your husband, Lady Paula. There remains but the air-pistol--and that will not be a difficult matter, either, I imagine." He looked significantly at Ross, whose face went suddenly scarlet.
"Not so fast, my friend; I'm accusing nobody," returned Cleek serenely, "and too much protestation often hides a guilty conscience. Please say nothing until you are questioned. It is the safest way. First--the stiletto."
He drew it from his pocket and held it aloft where they could all see it, the sunshine fighting upon its fine blade and turning it into a narrow ribbon of brilliancy.
There was an instant's hush of amazement as all looked at the thing, as of the stillness before the storm, and then Maud Duggan hurried forward and seized it in her two hands.
"It is my stepmother's!" she exclaimed emphatically, and at the sound of her voice Lady Paula sprang to her feet, instantly upon the defence, and her faintness forgotten in this exciting moment.