"I'm not thinking--about what will happen to me." She suddenly straightened, and her eyes kindled. "About the other--Ned, I'm not going to try to keep from thinking about it. I'm going to think about it all I can, until I see it through. Only thought, and keen, true thought, can help us now. I've had to do a lot of thinking in my life, overcoming difficulties. And there's no one really vitally interested but me--I was the closest relative, except for his uncle, that Nealman had. I'm going to find out the mystery of that lagoon! Perhaps, in finding it, I can solve a lot of other problems too--perhaps the one you just mentioned. Uncle Grover was kind to me, he gave me his protection and shelter--and I'm going to know what killed him!"
I found myself staring into her blazing, determined eyes. She meant what she said. The fire of a zealot was in her face. "Good Heavens, Edith! That isn't work for a woman----"
"It's work for anybody, with a clear enough brain to see the truth, and courage to prove it out----"
In some mysterious way her hands had got into mine. We were standing face to face in the shadowed hall. "But promise me--you won't go into danger!"
"I promise--that I'll take every precaution--to preserve myself."
As soon as daylight came the coroner held another inquest. Again the occupants of the great manor house, black and white, were gathered in the living-room, and the coroner called on each person in turn. Possible suspects had been numerous in the case of Florey's death: in regard to this second mystery they seemingly included almost every one in the house.
I was able to state positively that Major Dell and Van Hope were in their own rooms at the time, or such a short time afterward as to preclude them from any possible connection with the crime. I had seen the latter on his threshold: both of us had encountered Major Dell as he emerged from his room, his trousers slipped on over his pajamas. The court had to take each man's word in every other instance.
The coroner questioned Fargo particularly closely. I had testified that we had met him, at the lower hallway, fully dressed, and evidently the official attributed sinister importance to the fact. Fargo stood tightly by his guns, however, testifying that he sat in the same chair in the library from shortly after the dinner hour until he had heard the scream.