,,transcriber',s ,,note3 ,italics have been transcribed using underscores1 bold with equal signs1 and small capitals as ,,all ,,capitals4 ,inconsistencies in punctuation have been silently corrected4 ,a list of other corrections can be found at the end of the document4 ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,decoration ,,books ,,by ,,arthur ,b4 ,,reeve ,craig ,kennedy ,detective ,stories ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,,the ,,panama ,,plot ,,the ,,adventuress ,,the ,,treasure-,,train ,,the ,,silent ,,bullet ,,the ,,poisoned ,,pen ,,the ,,dream ,,doctor ,,the ,,exploits ,,of ,,elaine ,,the ,,romance ,,of ,,elaine ,,the ,,ear ,,in ,,the ,,wall ,,the ,,war ,,terror ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,,the ,,social ,,gangster ,other ,detective ,stories ,,guy ,,garrick ,,constance ,,dunlap ,,harper ,,brothers1 ,,new ,,york ,,established #ahag ,illustration3 ,,honora ,,wilford ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,a ,,craig ,,kennedy ,,scientific ,,mystery ,,novel ,,by ,,arthur ,b4 ,,reeve ,,author ,,of ,the ,treasure ,train ,the ,adventuress ,the ,panama ,plot and other ,craig ,kennedy ,stories ,logo ,,harper ,,brothers ,,publishers ,,new ,,york ,,and ,,london ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,copyright1 #aiai1 by ,harper ,brothers ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america ,published ,may1 #aiai ,,contents ,,chap4 ,,page ,i ,,the ,,death-,,dream #a ,,ii ,,the ,,marble ,,heart #ag ,,iii ,,the ,,freud ,,theory #cc ,,iv ,,the ,,hesitation ,,complex #dh ,v ,,the ,,psychanalysis #fc ,,vi ,,the ,,other ,,woman #gh ,,vii ,,the ,,crook ,,detective #ic ,,viii ,,the ,,poisoned ,,glass #ajh ,,ix ,,the ,,association ,,test #abc ,x ,,the ,,ordeal ,,bean #ach ,,xi ,,the ,,rascon ,,reports #aec ,,xii ,,the ,,new ,,morality #afi ,,xiii ,,the ,,mechanical ,,ear #ahf ,,xiv ,,the ,,jung ,,method #bjb ,,xv ,,the ,,conflicting ,,clues #bah ,,xvi ,,the ,,finesse #bcd ,,xvii ,,the ,,suppressed ,,desire #bdg ,,xviii ,,the ,,confession #bfa ,,xix ,,the ,,lie-,,detector #bgd ,,xx ,,the ,,soul ,,scar #bhg ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,i ,,the ,,death-,,dream ,it's the most perplexing case ,i've been up against1 ,kennedy1 for a long time4 ,doctor ,leslie1 now medical adviser to the district attorney1 had dropped in at the laboratory1 and1 to tell the truth1 ,i was glad of the interruption4 ,for from a retort ,kennedy was evolving an olfactory offense which was particularly annoying to me1 especially as ,i was struggling with an article on art for ,the ,star4 ,the things were incongruous1 and the article suffered4 ,a case8 repeated ,kennedy1 mechanically4 ,here--stick your foot up4 ,that's fine1 he added1 as he scraped the sole and heel of ,leslie's shoe1 while ,leslie fidgeted impatiently4 ,this is new4 ,apparently ,leslie's case was forgotten before it was begun4 ,you know1 ,craig went on1 eagerly1 the use of all these new leather substitutes is opening a new field for detectives in the study of foot marks4 ,i've just been analyzing the composition of some of the products4 ,i'll soon be able to identify them all4 ,a case1 you say--eh8 ,yes4 ,you know the lawyer1 ,vail ,wilford8 ,well1 they found him in his office--this morning--dead--the lights on2 a suicide--that is1 it looked like a suicide at first4 ,i don't know4 ,the thing's a mystery to me4 ,oh--a suicide8 ,craig frowned1 as though such a thing was entirely too trivial to interrupt his analysis of rubber heels4 ,he left this letter--to his wife1 persisted ,leslie4 ,we read the note4 ,,honora it began--,don't think ,i am a coward to do this1 but things cannot go on as they have been going4 ,it is no use4 ,i cannot work it out4 ,this is the only way4 ,so ,i shall drop out4 ,you will find my will in the safe4 ,good-by forever4 ,,vail4 ,the peculiarly pungent smell of burning rubber had by this time completely filled the laboratory4 ,it was stifling1 sickening4 ,there--you made me forget that test1 with your confounded suicide1 reproached ,kennedy4 ,that sample's ruined4 ,glad of it1 ,i snorted4 ,now ,i won't need a gas-mask4 ,however1 in curiosity ,i looked at the note again4 ,it was1 strangely enough1 written on a typewriter4 ,hm6 exclaimed ,kennedy1 with mild interest4 ,suicides don't usually write on typewriters4 ,a hasty scrawl--that's what you usually find4 ,but ,wilford was an unusual man1 ,i suggested4 ,you might look for almost anything from ,wilford4 ,i read the note again4 ,and as ,i did so ,i asked myself whether it was a suicide note1 after all4 ,to me1 now1 it seemed too calmly composed and written for that1 as ,kennedy had suggested4 ,i knew ,wilford as a lawyer1 still comparatively young and well known almost to the point of notoriety1 for of late he had taken many society divorce cases4 ,altogether1 his office had become a sort of fashionable court of domestic relations4 ,here's the strange thing1 hastened ,leslie1 taking advantage of ,kennedy's momentary interest before he could return to another retort laden with some new material4 ,we found in the office1 on the desk1 two glasses4 ,in one there seemed to be traces of nothing at all--but in the other ,i have discovered decided traces of atropin4 ,that looks promising1 remarked ,kennedy1 his analysis now entirely forgotten4 ,that's why ,i decided to call you in4 ,will you help me8 ,craig1 ,i interrupted1 ,i don't know much about ,vail ,wilford1 but he has had such an unsavory reputation that--well1 ,i'd hesitate4 ,i've always considered him a sort of society rat4 ,what difference does that make1 ,walter8 argued ,craig1 turning on me suddenly4 ,if a crime has been committed1 ,i must get at it4 ,it is my duty--even if the man is a 'rat1' as you call him4 ,besides1 this promises to be a very interesting case4 ,where is the body8 he asked1 abruptly1 in as matter-of-fact a tone as if it had been a wrecked car towed to a garage4 ,removed to his apartment on the ,drive1 replied ,doctor ,leslie1 now much encouraged and not concealing it4 ,i've just come from the place4 ,that was where ,i saw ,honora ,wilford4 ,how did ,mrs4 ,wilford take it8 asked ,craig4 ,has she been told all this yet8 ,not about the atropin1 ,i think4 ,that's just what ,i wanted to tell you about4 ,she was grief-stricken1 of course4 ,but she did not faint or do anything like that4 ,then what was it8 hastened ,kennedy1 impatiently4 ,when we told her1 replied ,leslie1 she exclaimed3 ',i knew it6 ,i knew it6' ,she stood at the side of the bed where the body had been placed4 ',i felt it6' she cried4 ',only the other night ,i had such a horrible dream4 ,i dreamed ,i saw him in a terrific struggle4 ,i could not make out who or what it was with which he struggled4 ,i tried to run to him4 ,but something seemed to hold me back4 ,i could not move4 ,then the scene shifted--like a motion picture4 ,i saw a funeral procession and in the coffin ,i could see as though by a second sight1 a face--his face6 ,oh1 it was a warning to me--to him6' ,i tried to calm her1 went on ,leslie4 ,but it was of no use4 ,she kept crying out3 ',it has come true--just as ,i saw in the dream4 ,i feared it--even when ,i knew it was only a dream4' ,strange1 don't you think1 ,kennedy8 ,why didn't you tell me this before8 asked ,craig1 impatiently4 ,didn't have a chance4 ,you were studying my rubber heels4 ,well--what then8 ,is there anything else8 ,i questioned her1 went on ,leslie4 ,i asked her about her dreams4 ',yes1' she said1 'often ,i have had the dream of that funeral procession--and always ,i saw the same face--,vail's6 ,oh1 it is horrible--horrible6' ,kennedy was studying ,leslie now keenly1 though he said nothing4 ,there's another thing1 too1 added ,leslie1 eagerly4 ,although ,mrs4 ,wilford seems to be perfectly normal1 still ,i have learned that she was suffering from the usual society complaint--nervousness--nervous breakdown4 ,she had been treated for some time by ,doctor ,lathrop--you know1 the society physician they all run to8 ,kennedy nodded4 ,then1 on a sort of docket1 or1 rather1 calendar for private notes by dates1 on the desk of ,wilford1 ,i discovered this entry1 among others1 ',prepare papers in proposed case of ,lathrop vs4 ,lathrop4' ,i turned back the calendar4 ,several times1 on previous days1 covering quite a period of time1 ,i found entries like this3 ',vina at four1' ',vina at six1' and other dates4 ,i glanced over at ,kennedy4 ,vina ,lathrop6 ,i knew also of ,vina ,lathrop1 the beautiful wife of the society physician4 ,it was certainly news that a divorce proceeding had even been contemplated4 ,i could imagine how the newspapers would revel in it when they knew4 ,then you'll go8 queried ,doctor ,leslie1 anxiously4 ,kennedy completely ignored my earlier objection4 ,certainly ,i'll go1 he replied1 pulling off his stained smock4 ,ten minutes later1 with ,doctor ,leslie1 we came to the ,wilford apartment1 one of those ornate and expensive multiple dwellings that front the river and command a rental that fixes a social station in certain sets4 ,following him1 we rode up in the elevator1 and had scarcely been admitted to the ,wilford suite when we were greeted familiarly by a voice4 ,it was ,doyle1 of the detective bureau1 a sleuth of the old school1 but for all that a capital fellow and one with whom we got along very nicely1 so long as we flattered him and allowed him a generous share of credit when the rounding out of a case came about4 ,what do you really know about her8 he whispered1 finally1 after a few moments' chat1 jerking his thumb ominously as he pointed with it down the hall in the direction of a room where ,i supposed that ,honora ,wilford must be4 ,very little1 it's true1 cut in ,leslie4 ,i think our report said that her maiden name was ,honora ,chappelle1 that her father1 ,honore ,chappelle1 made quite a fortune as an optician1 that she was an only child and inherited-- ,i don't mean her pedigree1 scorned ,doyle4 ,i mean modern history4 ,now1 ,i've been making some inquiries1 from the neighbors and others1 and ,i've had a couple of men out picking up stray bits of information4 ,doyle leaned over patronizingly to ,kennedy1 as much as to say that1 with all ,craig's science1 he couldn't beat the organization of the regular force1 a contention ,kennedy was always quite willing to admit4 ,i have just learned1 informed ,doyle1 that ,wilford had been having her shadowed4 ,they tell me1 too1 that she has been seen once or twice with an old friend of hers1 ,vance ,shattuck1 the broker4 ,they tell me that before she married ,wilford she was once engaged to ,shattuck4 ,know him8 he asked1 turning to me4 ,i've heard of him1 ,i replied4 ,i guess he's well known on ,wall ,street--seems to get his name into the papers often enough1 anyhow1 in one scandal or another4 ,well1 ,i think that dream stuff is all camouflage1 just between you and me1 nodded ,doyle1 sagely1 drawing a piece of paper from his pocket4 ,i've been going over things pretty carefully since ,i've been here4 ,in her desk ,i found this thing4 ,he held out the paper to ,kennedy4 ,it was a page torn out of a book of poetry1 an anthology1 ,i imagined1 for on the page was printed the title of a sonnet1 ,renouncement1 and the name of the author1 ,alice ,meynell4 ,on the wide margin of the page was written in ink1 in what ,doyle assured us was ,mrs4 ,wilford's own handwriting1 the notation1 ,one of the greatest sonnets of pure emotion4 ,we all read it and ,i am forced to admit that1 whatever our opinion might have been of ,honora ,wilford before1 we were convinced that her literary judgment was not at fault4 ,i add the sonnet3 ,i must not think of thee2 and tired1 yet strong1 ,i shun the love that lurks in all delight-- ,the love of thee--and in the blue heaven's height ,and in the dearest passage of a song4 ,oh1 just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng ,this breast1 the thought of thee waits hidden1 yet bright2 ,but must it never1 never come in sight2 ,i must stop short of thee the whole day long4 ,but when sleep comes to close each difficult day1 ,when night gives pause to the long watch ,i keep1 ,and all my bonds ,i needs must loose apart1 ,must doff my will as raiment laid away-- ,with the first dream that comes1 with the first sleep ,i run1 ,i run1 ,i am gathered to thy heart4 ,kennedy folded up the sonnet and its notation1 and1 without a word1 turned from ,doyle and looked about the room in which we were1 a little reception-room4 ,on the table before ,doyle there were two glasses1 as well as some other objects which ,doyle had either collected or brought with him from the office4 ,i suppose those are the glasses you found at the office1 ventured ,kennedy4 ,in one of them ,i understand that traces of atropin were found4 ,doyle nodded4 ,what's that8 asked ,craig1 pointing to a cut-glass-stoppered bottle which was standing by the glasses1 empty4 ,that8 ,it was found with a vanity-case and some other things on her dressing-table4 ,it once contained belladonna--atropin1 you know4 ,i've had her maid1 ,celeste1 cross-examined4 ,mrs4 ,wilford used belladonna to brighten her eyes sometimes1 as many society women do4 ,i shot a glance of inquiry at ,doyle1 who nodded4 ,so far1 we haven't been able to connect ,mrs4 ,wilford directly with the mystery1 but we're keeping the evidence1 he confirmed4 ,i must admit that both ,doyle's information and his general attitude after what we had heard from ,leslie came as a shock4 ,yet1 try as ,i might1 ,i had to admit that even if that were the purpose for which ,honora ,wilford had the belladonna1 it need not have been the only use to which she put it4 ,doyle was raising a very serious presumption1 at least4 ,a poison like belladonna was a dangerous weapon1 ,i reasoned1 in the hands of a jealous woman4 ,the mere possession of it and the traces of atropin in the glass did1 ,i confessed1 look badly4 ,a moment later1 with the physician and the detective1 we entered the room where the body lay4 ,wilford had been a large and rather forceful figure in life4 ,i knew him as a man of unusual ability1 though ,i despised the direction in which his legal talents had been diverted4 ,perhaps1 ,i thought1 unusual talents had brought unusual temptations4 ,for1 whatever we may have thought of people in life1 our judgments are necessarily softened by death4 ,as ,i looked at him now1 ,i could not escape the feeling that his peculiar kind of success somehow would afford the basic reason which would prove to be the solution of the mystery before us4 ,at length ,kennedy straightened up and turned to us1 a peculiar look on his face4 ,what is it8 ,i queried1 impatiently4 ,have you discovered something already8 ,without replying for the moment1 ,kennedy glanced down significantly at the eye of ,wilford as he held the lid with his finger4 ,atropin1 you know1 would dilate the pupil1 he remarked1 simply4 ,we took a step closer and looked4 ,the pupils of both eyes were contracted4 ,i know1 remarked ,doyle1 wisely1 but there may have been something else4 ,you remember the ,buchanan case8 ,before any one could answer1 he went on3 ,remember when the ,carlyle ,harris case was going on1 the testimony showed that ,helen ,potts's eyes had been contracted to a pin-point8 ,well1 at that time ,doctor ,buchanan1 a dentist down on ,staten ,island1 ,i think1 was talking to a patient4 ,he said that ,harris was a fool--that all he needed to have done was to have put some atropin in the capsule with the morphine--and her pupils would have expanded--and thus covered up the morphine clue4 ,later1 when he himself was accused of murder1 the patient recollected what the doctor had said1 and it was found that he had tried the very thing himself4 ,it was proved against him4 ,perhaps there is something like that4 ,kennedy nodded sententiously at ,doyle's wisdom1 but did not betray what his real opinion was1 if indeed he had formed any so soon4 ,you have examined the contents of the stomach8 asked ,craig of ,leslie4 ,doctor ,leslie shook his head4 ,not yet4 ,i have not had time4 ,remember1 it is only a couple of hours since this case was handed over to me and it has been only a matter of minutes since ,i learned that there was anything suspicious4 ,then ,i suppose you have no objection to my sharing the examination with you8 ,none whatsoever4 ,in fact1 ,i should welcome it4 ,leave it to me4 ,i will arrange for samples of everything to be sent to you at your laboratory at the very first opportunity4 ,very well1 then1 thanked ,kennedy4 ,now ,i should like to see ,mrs4 ,wilford1 if she is here4 ,you bet she's here1 ejaculated ,doyle4 ,you don't suppose ,i'd let her get away1 do you8 ,he led the way down the hall to a sort of drawing-room4 ,honora ,wilford was a tall1 perfectly formed woman1 a beautiful woman1 too4 ,at first glance she gave one an impression of youth1 though soon one saw that she was mature4 ,i think that for that very reason she was fascinating4 ,there was something baffling about her4 ,remembering what ,leslie had said about the dream1 ,i was surprised to see she was of anything1 apparently1 but a hysterical nature4 ,one would not have thought her to be the type subject to hallucinations of any nature4 ,honora had large1 lustrous1 gray-blue eyes4 ,from her carefully dressed chestnut hair to her dainty1 fashionable foot-gear she was correct4 ,her face had what people call character4 ,yet1 as ,i studied it and the personality it expressed1 ,i had an indefinable feeling that there was something wanting4 ,it was some time before ,i was able to catch it1 much less express it4 ,but as she talked ,i realized what it was4 ,her beauty was that of a splendid piece of sculpture--cold1 almost marble4 ,there seemed to be something lacking4 ,i could not at first define it1 yet ,i felt that it was lacking1 nevertheless4 ,the very perfection ,i saw fell short of some quality4 ,it was that elusive thing we call heart4 ,as we entered with ,doyle1 ,honora seemed to ignore him4 ,once ,i saw her covertly eying ,kennedy1 after our introduction1 as though estimating him4 ,doyle had glossed the introduction over by saying that we were a couple of scientists4 ,what idea it conveyed to ,mrs4 ,wilford ,i do not know4 ,it meant nothing to me1 except that ,doyle suffered from either secret jealously or contempt4 ,i understand1 questioned ,doyle1 in his best third-degree1 hammer-and-tongs method1 that some time ago you had a disagreement with ,mr4 ,wilford and even threatened to leave him4 ,yes8 parried ,honora1 without admitting a syllable4 ,i didn't leave him1 though1 did ,i8 ,i watched her closely4 ,she did not flinch from the questioning1 nor did she betray anything4 ,her face wore an expression of enforced calmness4 ,had she steeled herself for this ordeal1 as merely the first of many8 ,try as he might1 ,doyle could not shake her calmness4 ,yet all the time he gave the impression that he was holding something in reserve against her4 ,we shall have to require you to stay here1 for the present1 added ,doyle1 ominously1 as his man summoned him outside for some message from headquarters4 ,i saw what his idea was4 ,it was a refinement of torture for her--in the hope that1 surrounded by things that would keep the tragedy constantly in her mind1 she might break down4 ,honora1 on the other hand1 did not seem to me to be entirely frank with the detective4 ,was it that ,doyle1 by his manner1 antagonized her8 ,or was there some deeper reason8 ,for a moment we were alone with her4 ,if ,i had expected any appeal to ,kennedy1 ,i was mistaken4 ,i understand that you have been under the care of ,doctor ,lathrop1 hazarded ,craig4 ,yes1 she replied2 ,i've been so run down and miserable this season in town that ,i needed some treatment4 ,i see1 considered ,kennedy4 ,doctor ,leslie has told me4 ,he also told me about your dreams4 ,she averted her eyes4 ,they have made me even more nervous1 she murmured1 and ,i now noticed that it was quite true that her apparent placid exterior was merely a matter of will-power4 ,do you dream more--or less1 lately8 ,craig asked4 ,that is1 ,i mean since you have been consulting ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,has his treatment done you any good8 ,i wondered whether1 beneath her nervousness1 she was on guard always4 ,i think ,i have been getting more and more nervous1 instead of less1 she answered1 in a low tone4 ,so many dreams of ,vail--and always dreams of warning--of death4 ,my dreams are so peculiar1 too4 ,why1 last night ,i dreamed even of ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,in the dream ,i seemed to be going along a path4 ,it was narrow1 and as ,i turned a corner there was a lion in the way4 ,i was horribly frightened1 of course--so frightened that ,i woke up4 ,the strange part of it was that1 as ,i recollected the dream1 the face of the lion seemed to be that of ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,have you told him8 ,what does he say8 ,i haven't had a chance to see him--though by the way ,i feel after this tragedy ,i shall need a physician--soon4 ,he tells me that ,i am run down1 that ,i need a complete change of surroundings4 ,it was evident that1 whatever the reason1 her nervous condition was quite as she described it4 ,kennedy evidently considered that nothing was to be gained by questioning her further just at that moment1 and we left her4 ,outside we were joined by ,doctor ,leslie4 ,what do you think of it8 he asked4 ,a most peculiar tangle1 to say the least1 remarked ,kennedy4 ,just consider it4 ,here are two couples--,wilford and ,honora1 ,doctor ,lathrop and his wife1 ,vina4 ,we may suspect1 from what you found at the office1 something in the relations of ,wilford and ,vina4 ,as to the doctor and ,honora--we don't know4 ,then1 into the case seems to have entered a fifth person1 ,vance ,shattuck4 ,really1 ,leslie1 ,i cannot say anything now4 ,it seems as though it might be quite complicated4 ,i shall have to visit them1 talk with them1 find out4 ,you and ,doyle will keep me informed8 ,certainly4 ,and ,i will let you have the materials for your tests as soon as possible4 ,as we left the apartment1 ,kennedy appeared preoccupied4 ,those dreams were peculiar1 he remarked1 slowly1 almost to himself4 ,i glanced at him quickly4 ,you don't mean to say that you attach any importance to dreams8 ,i remarked4 ,kennedy merely shrugged4 ,but ,i knew from his actions that he did4 ,,ii ,,the ,,marble ,,heart ,i'm going to get acquainted with the people in this case1 remarked ,kennedy1 as he left the ,wilford apartment1 and first of all it will be with ,vance ,shattuck4 ,we found that ,shattuck lived in a rather sumptuous bachelor apartment farther up the ,drive1 to which we were admitted by his ,japanese valet1 who led the way into a sort of den1 then disappeared to summon his master4 ,as we waited in the den ,i glanced about4 ,it was a most attractive and fascinating place4 ,there were innumerable curios that seemed to have been gathered from all over the world4 ,nor were they merely thrown together in a jumble4 ,it was artistic1 too1 with a masculine art4 ,from the manner of the valet1 though he had said nothing1 ,i somehow gathered that ,shattuck had been waiting for something or somebody4 ,it was no longer early in the morning and ,i knew that he must have been neglecting his business1 that is1 if he really had any to neglect4 ,i wondered why he should be doing so4 ,a few minutes later ,shattuck himself appeared1 a slim1 debonair1 youngish-old man1 with dark hair of the sort that turns iron-gray in spots even in youth4 ,somehow he gave the impression of being a man of few words1 of being on guard even thus early in our meeting4 ,you have evidently traveled considerably1 commented ,kennedy1 as he entered and we introduced ourselves4 ,yes1 a great deal1 before the war1 replied ,shattuck1 guardedly watching4 ,in ,africa1 ,i see1 added ,kennedy1 who had been examining some striking big-game photographs that hung on a side wall4 ,once ,i was in ,africa--yes4 ,but ,i contracted a fever there4 ,it has left me unable to stand the fatigue ,i used to stand4 ,however1 ,i'm all right--otherwise--and good for a great many years in this climate--so my doctor tells me4 ,doctor ,lathrop8 suggested ,kennedy1 quickly4 ,shattuck evaded replying4 ,to what am ,i indebted for the honor8 he queried1 coldly now1 still standing and not offering us seats4 ,i suppose you have heard of the death of ,vail ,wilford8 asked ,kennedy1 coming directly to the point4 ,yes4 ,i have just learned that he was found dead in his office1 the lights turned on1 and with a note left by him to his wife4 ,it's very sudden4 ,you were acquainted with ,honora ,wilford1 ,i believe8 ,shattuck flashed a quick glance sidewise4 ,we went to school together4 ,and were engaged once1 were you not8 ,shattuck looked at ,kennedy keenly4 ,yes1 he replied1 hastily4 ,but what business of yours--or anybody's1 for that matter--is that8 ,a moment later he caught himself4 ,that is1 he added1 ,i mean--how did you know that8 ,it was a sort of secret1 ,i thought1 between us4 ,she broke it off--not ,i4 ,she broke off the engagement8 ,yes--a story about an escapade of mine1 and all that sort of thing1 that kind mutual friends do so well for one in repeating--but6 by ,jove1 ,i like your nerve1 sir1 to talk about it--to me4 ,the fact of the matter is1 ,i prefer not to talk about it4 ,there are some incidents in a man's life1 particularly where a woman is concerned1 that are a closed book4 ,he said it with a mixture of defiance and finality4 ,quite true1 hastened ,kennedy1 briskly1 but a murder has been committed4 ,the police have been called in4 ,everything must be gone over carefully4 ,we can't stand on any ceremony now1 you know-- ,at that moment the telephone rang and ,shattuck turned quickly toward the hall as his valet padded in after having answered it softly4 ,you will excuse me a moment8 he begged4 ,was this call what he had been waiting for8 ,i looked about1 but there was no chance to get into the hall or near enough in the den to overhear4 ,while ,shattuck was at the telephone1 ,kennedy paced across the room to a bookcase4 ,there he paused a moment and ran his eye over the titles of some of the books4 ,they were of a most curious miscellaneous selection1 showing that the reader had been interested in pretty nearly every serious subject and somewhat more than a mere dabbler4 ,kennedy bent down closer to be sure of one title1 and from where ,i was standing behind him ,i could catch sight of it4 ,it was a book on dreams translated from the works of ,dr4 ,sigmund ,freud4 ,kennedy continued to pace up and down4 ,out in the hall ,shattuck was still at the telephone and we could just make out that he was talking in a very low tone1 inaudible to us at a distance4 ,i wondered with whom it might be4 ,from his manner1 which was about all we could observe1 ,i gathered that it was a lady with whom he talked4 ,few of us ever get over the feeling that in some way we are in the presence of the person on the other end of the wire4 ,could it have been with ,honora ,wilford herself that he was talking8 ,a few moments later ,shattuck returned from the telephone4 ,have you met ,mrs4 ,wilford recently8 asked ,kennedy1 picking up the conversation where he had been interrupted by the call4 ,shattuck eyed ,kennedy with hostility and grunted a surly negative4 ,i felt that it was a lie4 ,i suppose you know that she has been suffering from nervous trouble for some time8 he continued1 calmly ignoring ,shattuck's answer1 then adding1 sarcastically1 ,i trust you won't consider it an impertinence1 ,mr4 ,shattuck1 if ,i ask you whether you were aware that ,doctor ,lathrop was ,mrs4 ,wilford's physician8 ,yes1 ,i am aware of it1 returned ,shattuck4 ,what of it8 ,he is yours1 too1 is he not8 asked ,kennedy1 pointedly4 ,shattuck was plainly nettled by the question1 especially as he could not seem to follow whither ,kennedy was drifting4 ,he was once1 he answered1 testily4 ,but ,i gave him up4 ,you gave him up8 ,it has always been a source of enjoyment to me to watch ,kennedy badgering an unwilling and hostile witness4 ,shattuck was suddenly finding himself to be far from the man of few words he thought himself4 ,it was not so much in what ,kennedy asked as the manner in which he asked it4 ,shattuck was immediately placed on the defensive1 much to his chagrin4 ,yes4 ,i most strenuously object to being the subject of--what shall ,i call it--perhaps--this mental vivisection1 ,i suppose1 he snapped1 vexed at himself for answering at all1 yet finding himself under the necessity of finishing what he had unwillingly begun under the lash of ,kennedy's quizzing4 ,kennedy did not hesitate4 ,why8 he asked4 ,do you think that he sometimes oversteps his mark in trying to find out about the mental life of his patients8 ,shattuck managed to control a sharp reply that was trembling on his tongue4 ,i would rather say nothing about it1 he shrugged4 ,i see you are a student of ,freud yourself1 switched ,kennedy1 quickly1 with a nod toward the bookcase4 ,and of many other things1 retorted ,shattuck4 ,you'll find about a ton of literature in that bookcase4 ,but it was about her dreams1 persisted ,kennedy1 that she consulted ,doctor ,lathrop1 ,i believe4 ,are you acquainted with the nature of the dreams8 ,shattuck eyed him in silence4 ,it was evident that he realized that the only refuge from the quizzing lay in that direction4 ,really1 sir1 he said1 at last1 ,i don't care to discuss a thing ,i know nothing about any further4 ,he turned1 as though only by a studied insult could he find escape4 ,i expected ,kennedy to flare up1 but he did not4 ,instead1 he was ominously polite4 ,thank you1 he said1 with a mocking sarcasm that angered ,shattuck the more4 ,i suppose ,i may reach you at your place of business1 later1 if ,i need8 ,shattuck nodded1 but ,i knew there was a mental reservation back of it and that his switchboard operator would be given instructions to scrutinize every call carefully1 and that1 should we call up1 ,mr4 ,shattuck would have just stepped out4 ,as for ,kennedy's tone1 ,i was sure that it boded no good for ,shattuck himself4 ,perhaps ,kennedy reasoned that there would be plenty of other interviews later and that it was not worth while fighting on the first4 ,on his part ,shattuck could do no less than assume an equal politeness as he bowed us out1 though ,i know that inwardly he was ready to consign us to the infernal regions4 ,kennedy was no sooner in the street than he hastened to a near-by telephone-booth4 ,evidently the same thought had been in his mind as had been in mine4 ,he called up ,doyle at the ,wilford apartment immediately and inquired whether ,honora ,wilford had made any telephone calls recently4 ,to my surprise1 though ,i will not say to his own1 he found out that she had not4 ,then who was it called ,shattuck8 ,i queried4 ,i could have sworn from his manner that he was talking to a woman4 ,could it have been to the maid8 ,he shook his head4 ,celeste is watched1 too1 you know4 ,no1 it was not ,celeste that called up4 ,he would never have talked that long nor as deferentially to her4 ,never mind4 ,we shall see4 ,back on the ,drive again1 we walked hastily up-town a few squares until we came to another apartment1 where1 in a first-floor window1 ,i saw a little sign in black letters on white1 ,dr4 ,irvin ,lathrop4 ,fortunately it was at a time when ,lathrop was just finishing his office hours1 and we had not long to wait until the last patient had left after a consultation4 ,as we waited ,i could see that even his waiting-room was handsomely furnished and ,i knew that it must be expensive1 for our own small apartment1 a little farther up-town and around the corner from the ,drive1 cost quite enough1 though ,kennedy insisted on keeping it because it was so close to the university where he had his laboratory and his class work4 ,as ,lathrop flung the door to his inner office open ,i saw that he was a tall and commanding-looking man with a ,vandyke beard4 ,one would instinctively have picked him out anywhere as a physician4 ,lathrop1 ,i knew1 was not only well known as a specialist in nervous diseases1 but also as a man about town4 ,in spite of his large and lucrative practice1 he always seemed to have time enough to visit the many clubs to which he belonged and to hold a prominent place in the social life of the city4 ,not only was he well known as a club-man1 but he was very popular with the ladies4 ,in fact1 it was probably due to the very life that he led that his practice as a physician to the many ills of society had grown4 ,i suppose you know of the suicide of ,vail ,wilford8 asked ,kennedy1 as he explained briefly1 without telling too much1 our connection with the case4 ,doctor ,lathrop signified that he did know1 but1 like ,shattuck1 ,i could see that he was inclined to be cautious about it4 ,i've just been talking to ,honora ,wilford1 went on ,craig1 when we were settled in the doctor's inner office4 ,i believe she was a patient of yours8 ,yes1 he admitted1 with some reluctance4 ,and that she had been greatly troubled by nervousness--insomnia--her dreams--and that sort of thing4 ,the doctor nodded1 but did not volunteer any information4 ,however1 his was not the hostility of ,shattuck4 ,i set it down to professional reticence and1 as such1 perhaps hard to overcome4 ,i understand1 also1 pursued ,kennedy1 affecting not to notice anything lacking in the readiness of the answer1 that ,vance ,shattuck was friendly with her4 ,the doctor looked at him a moment1 as though studying him4 ,what do you mean8 he asked1 evasively4 ,what makes you say that8 ,but he was1 wasn't he8 ,at least1 she was friendly with him8 ,kennedy repeated1 reversing the form of the question to see what effect it might have4 ,i shouldn't say so1 returned the doctor1 slowly1 though not frankly4 ,kennedy reached into his pocket and drew forth the sonnet which he had taken from ,doyle back at the ,wilford apartment4 ,you will recognize the handwriting in that notation on the margin1 he remarked1 quietly4 ,it is ,mrs4 ,wilford's4 ,her sentiment1 taken from the poem1 is interesting4 ,lathrop read it and then reread it to gain time1 for it was some moments before he could look up1 as though he had to make up his mind just what to say4 ,very pretty thought4 ,he nodded1 scarcely committing himself4 ,lathrop seemed a trifle uneasy4 ,i thought it a rather strange coincidence1 taken with the bit ,i learned of her dreams1 remarked ,kennedy4 ,lathrop's glance at ,kennedy was one of estimation1 but ,i saw that ,kennedy was carefully concealing just how much1 or rather at present how little1 he actually knew4 ,ordinarily1 remarked ,lathrop1 clearing his throat1 professional ethics would seal my lips1 but in this instance1 since you seem to think that you know so much1 ,i will tell you--something4 ,i don't like to talk about my patients1 and ,i won't1 but1 in justice to ,mrs4 ,wilford1 ,i cannot let this pass4 ,he cleared his throat again and leaned back in his chair1 regarding ,kennedy watchfully through his glasses as he spoke4 ,some time ago1 he resumed1 slowly1 ,mrs4 ,wilford came to me to be treated4 ,she said that she suffered from sleeplessness--and then when she slept that her rest was broken by such horrible fantasies4 ,kennedy nodded1 as though fully conversant already with what the doctor had said4 ,there were dreams of her husband1 he continued1 morbid fears4 ,one very frequent dream was of him engaged in what seemed to be a terrific struggle1 although she has never been able to tell me just with what or whom he seemed to struggle4 ,she told me she always had a feeling of powerlessness when in that dream1 as though unable to run to him and help him4 ,then there were other dreams that she had1 especially the dreams of a funeral procession1 and always in the coffin she saw his face4 ,kennedy nodded again4 ,yes1 ,i know of those dreams1 he remarked1 casually4 ,and of some others4 ,for a moment ,kennedy's manner seemed to take the doctor off his professional guard--or did he intend it to seem so8 ,only the other day1 ,lathrop went on1 a moment later1 she told me of another dream4 ,in it she seemed to be attacked by a bull4 ,she fled from it1 but as it pursued her it seemed to gain on her1 and she said she could even feel its hot breath--it was so close4 ,then1 in her dream1 in fright1 as she ran over the field1 hoping to gain a clump of woods1 she stumbled and almost fell4 ,she caught herself and ran on4 ,she expected momentarily to be gored by the bull1 but1 strangely enough1 the dream went no farther4 ,it changed4 ,she seemed1 she said1 to be in the midst of a crowd and in place of the bull pursuing her was now a serpent4 ,it crept over the ground after her and hissed1 seemed to fascinate her1 and she trembled so that she could no longer run4 ,her terror1 by this time1 was so great that she awoke4 ,she tells me that as often as she dreamed them she never finished either dream4 ,very peculiar1 commented ,kennedy4 ,you have records of what she has told you8 ,yes4 ,i may say that ,i have asked her to make a record of her dreams1 as well as other data which ,i thought might be of use in the diagnosis and treatment of her nervous troubles4 ,might ,i see them8 ,lathrop shook his head emphatically4 ,by no means4 ,i consider that they are privileged1 confidential communications between patient and physician--not only illegal1 but absolutely unethical to divulge4 ,there's one strange thing1 though1 that ,i may be at liberty to add1 since you know something already4 ,always1 she says1 these animals in the dreams seemed to be endowed with a sort of human personality4 ,both the bull and the serpent seemed to have human faces4 ,kennedy nodded at the surprising information4 ,if ,i had expected him to refer to the dream of ,doctor ,lathrop which she herself had told1 ,i was mistaken4 ,what do you think is the trouble8 asked ,kennedy1 at length1 quite as though he had no idea what to make of it4 ,trouble8 ,nervousness1 of course4 ,i readily surmised that not the dreams were the cause of her nervousness1 but that her nervousness was the cause of her dreams4 ,as for the dreams1 they are perfectly simple1 ,i think you will agree4 ,her nervousness brought back into her recollection something that had once worried her4 ,by careful questioning ,i think ,i discovered what was back of her dreams1 at least in part4 ,it's nothing you won't discover soon1 if you haven't already discovered it4 ,it was an engagement broken before her marriage to ,wilford4 ,i see1 nodded ,kennedy4 ,in the dreams1 you remember1 she saw a half-human face on the animals4 ,it was the face of ,vance ,shattuck4 ,i gathered as much1 prompted ,kennedy4 ,it seems that she was once engaged to him--that she broke the engagement because of reports she heard about his escapades4 ,i do not say this to disparage ,mr4 ,shattuck4 ,far from that4 ,he is a fine fellow--an intimate friend of mine1 fellow-clubmate1 and all that sort of thing4 ,that was all before he made his trips abroad--hunting1 mostly1 everywhere from the ,arctic to ,africa4 ,the fact of the matter is1 as ,i happen to know1 that since he traveled abroad he has greatly settled down in his habits4 ,and then1 who of us has not sown his wild oats8 ,the doctor smiled indulgently at the easy-going doctrine that is now so rapidly passing1 especially among medical men4 ,well1 he concluded1 that is the story4 ,make the most of it you can4 ,very strange--very1 remarked ,kennedy1 then1 changing the angle of the subject1 asked1 ,you are acquainted with the recent work and the rather remarkable dream theories of ,doctor ,freud8 ,doctor ,lathrop nodded4 ,yes1 he replied1 slowly1 ,i am acquainted with them--and ,i dissent vigorously from most of ,freud's conclusions4 ,kennedy was about to reply to this rather sweeping categorical manner of settling the question1 when1 as we talked1 it became evident that there was some one just outside the partly open doors of the inner office4 ,i had seen a woman anxiously hovering about1 but had said nothing4 ,is that you1 ,vina8 called ,doctor ,lathrop1 also catching sight of her in the hall4 ,yes1 she replied1 parting the portires and nodding to us4 ,i beg pardon for interrupting4 ,i was waiting for you to get through1 ,irvin1 but ,i've an appointment down-town4 ,i'm sure you won't mind8 ,vina ,lathrop was indeed a striking woman2 dark of hair1 perhaps a bit artificial1 but of the sort which is the more fascinating to study just because of that artificiality2 perhaps not the type of woman most men might think of marrying1 but one whom few would fail to be interested in4 ,she seemed to be more of a man's woman than a woman's woman4 ,you will excuse me a moment8 begged the doctor1 rising4 ,so1 you see1 he finished with us1 when you asked me whether she was friendly with ,shattuck1 it is quite the opposite1 ,i should-- ,you're talking of ,honora8 interrupted the doctor's wife4 ,doctor ,lathrop introduced us1 as there seemed to be nothing else to do1 but ,i do not think he was quite at ease4 ,i don't think ,i would have said that1 she hastened1 almost ignoring1 except by an inclination of the head1 the introduction in the eagerness to express an idea his words had suggested4 ,i don't think ,honora is capable of either deep love or even deep hate4 ,a sort of marble woman8 suggested the doctor1 at first biting his lips at having her in the conversation1 then affecting to be amused1 as though at one woman's spontaneous estimate of another4 ,vina shrugged her prettily rounded shoulders1 but said no more on the subject4 ,i sha'n't be gone long1 she nodded back4 ,just a bit of business4 ,she was gone before the doctor could say a word4 ,had the remark in some way been a shot at the doctor8 ,all did not appear to be as serene between this couple as they might outwardly have us believe4 ,i saw that the interruption had not been lost on ,kennedy4 ,had it been really an interest in our visit that had prompted it8 ,somehow1 ,i wondered whether it might not have been this woman who had called up ,shattuck while we were there4 ,but why8 ,we left the doctor a few minutes later1 more than ever convinced that the mystery in the strange death of ,vail ,wilford was not so simple as it seemed4 ,,iii ,,the ,,freud ,,theory ,until ,i receive those materials from ,doctor ,leslie to make the poison tests1 considered ,kennedy1 as we walked slowly the few blocks to the laboratory1 ,i can't see that there is much ,i can do but wait4 ,in his laboratory1 he paused before his well-stocked shelves with their miscellaneous collection of books on almost every conceivable subject4 ,absently he selected a volume4 ,i could see that it was one of the latest translated treatises on this new psychology from the pen of the eminent scientist1 ,dr4 ,sigmund ,freud1 and that it bore the significant title1 ,the ,interpretation of ,dreams4 ,craig glanced through it mechanically1 then laid it aside4 ,for a few moments he sat at his desk1 hunched forward1 staring straight ahead and drumming his fingers thoughtfully4 ,i leaned over and my eye happened to fall on the following paragraphs3 ,to him who is tortured by physical and mental sufferings the dream accords what has been denied him by reality1 to wit1 physical well-being and happiness2 so the insane1 too1 see the bright pictures of happiness1 greatness1 sublimity1 and riches4 ,the supposed possession of estates and the imaginary fulfilment of wishes1 the denial or destruction of which has just served as the psychic cause of the insanity1 often form the main content of the delirium4 ,the woman who has lost a dearly beloved child1 in her delirium experiences maternal joys2 the man who has suffered reverses of fortune sees himself immensely wealthy1 and the jilted girl pictures herself in the bliss of tender love4 ,the above passage from ,radestock reveals with the greatest clearness the wish-fulfilment as a characteristic of the imagination1 common to the dream and the psychosis4 ,it is easy to show that the character of wish-fulfilment in dreams is often undisguised and recognizable1 so that one may wonder why the language of dreams has not long since been understood4 ,i read this and more1 but1 as ,i merely skimmed it1 ,i could not say that ,i understood it4 ,i turned to ,kennedy1 still abstracted4 ,then you really regard the dreams as important8 ,i asked1 all thought of finishing my own article on art abandoned for the present in the fascination of the mysterious possibilities opened up by the ,wilford case4 ,important8 he repeated4 ,immensely so--indispensable1 as a matter of fact4 ,i could only stare at him4 ,the mere thought that anything so freakish1 so uncontrollable as a dream might have a serious importance in a murder case had never entered my mind4 ,if ,i can get at the truth of the case1 he explained1 it must be through these dreams4 ,but how are you going to do that8 ,i asked1 voicing the thought that had been forming4 ,to me1 dreams seem to be just disconnected phantasmagoria of ideas--arising nowhere and getting nowhere1 as far as ,i can see--interesting1 perhaps1 but--still1 well1 just chaotic4 ,quite the contrary1 ,walter1 he corrected4 ,if you had kept abreast with the best recent work in psychology1 you wouldn't say that4 ,well1 what is this wonderful ,freud theory1 anyhow8 ,i asked1 a bit nettled at his positive tone4 ,what do we know now that we didn't know before8 ,very much1 he replied1 thoughtfully4 ,there's just this to be said about dreams to-day4 ,a few years ago they were all but inexplicable4 ,the accepted explanations1 then1 were positively misleading and productive of all sorts of misapprehension and downright charlatanry4 ,all right1 ,i argued4 ,that's just my idea of dreams4 ,tell me what it is that the modern dream-books have to say about them1 then4 ,don't be frivolous1 ,walter1 ,craig frowned4 ,dreams used to be treated very seriously1 it is true1 by the ancients4 ,but1 as ,i just said1 until recently modern scientists1 rejecting the beliefs of the dark ages1 as they thought1 scouted dreams as senseless jumbles of ideas1 uncontrolled1 in sleep4 ,that's your class1 ,walter1 he replied1 witheringly1 with the scientists who thought that they had the last word1 just because it was1 to them1 the latest4 ,though ,i resented his correction1 ,i said nothing1 for ,i saw that he was serious4 ,mindful of many previous encounters with ,craig in his own fields in which ,i had come off a bad second1 ,i waited prudently4 ,to-day1 however1 he continued1 we study dreams really scientifically4 ,we believe that whatever is has a reason4 ,many students had had the idea that dreams meant something in mental life that was not just pure fake and nonsense4 ,but until ,freud came along with his theories little progress had been made in the scientific study of dreams4 ,granted1 ,i replied1 now rather interested4 ,then what is his theory8 ,not very difficult to explain1 if you will listen carefully a moment1 ,craig went on4 ,dreams1 says ,freud1 are very important1 instead of being mere nonsense4 ,they give us the most reliable information concerning the individual4 ,but that is possible only if the patient is in entire rapport with the investigator4 ,later1 ,i may be able to give you a demonstration of what ,i mean by that4 ,now1 however1 ,i want you to understand just what it is that ,i am seeking to discover and the method it is my purpose to adopt to attain it4 ,the farther ,kennedy proceeded1 the more ,i found myself interested1 in spite of my assumption of skepticism4 ,in fact1 ,i had assumed the part more because ,i wanted to learn from him than for any other reason4 ,but how do you think dreams arise in the first place8 ,i asked1 more sympathetically4 ,surely1 if they have a meaning that can be discovered by a scientist like yourself1 they must come in some logical way--and that is the thing ,i can't understand1 first of all4 ,not so difficult4 ,the dream is not an absurd and senseless jumble1 as you seem to think4 ,really1 when it is properly understood1 it is a perfect mechanism and has definite meaning in penetrating the mind4 ,he was drawing thoughtfully on a piece of paper1 as he often did when his mind was working actively4 ,it is as though we had two streams of thought1 he explained1 one of which we allow to flow freely1 the other of which we are constantly repressing1 pushing back into the subconscious or the unconscious1 as you will4 ,this matter of the evolution of our individual mental life is much too long a story for me to go into just at present4 ,but the resistances1 as they are called1 the psychic censors of our ideas1 so to speak1 are always active1 except in sleep4 ,it is then that the repressed material comes to the surface4 ,yet these resistances never entirely lose their power4 ,the dream1 therefore1 shows the material distorted4 ,seldom does one recognize his own repressed thoughts or unattained wishes4 ,the dream is really the guardian of sleep1 to satisfy the activity of the unconscious and repressed mental processes that would otherwise disturb sleep by keeping the censor busy4 ,that's why we don't recognize the distortions4 ,in the case of a nightmare the watchman1 or censor1 is aroused1 finds himself over-powered1 as it were1 and calls for help4 ,consciousness must often come to the rescue--and we wake up4 ,very neat1 ,i admitted1 now more than half convinced4 ,but what sort of dreams are there8 ,i don't see how you can classify them1 study them4 ,easily enough4 ,i should say that there are three kinds of dreams--those which represent an unrepressed wish as fulfilled1 those that represent the realization of a repressed wish in an entirely concealed form1 and those that represent the realization of a repressed wish1 but in a form insufficiently or only partially concealed4 ,but what about these dream doctors who profess to be able to tell you what is going to happen--the clairvoyants8 ,kennedy shrugged4 ,cruel fakers1 almost invariably1 he replied4 ,this is something entirely different1 on an entirely different plane4 ,dreams are not really of the future1 even though they may seem to be4 ,they are of the past--that is1 their roots are in the past4 ,of course1 they are of the future in the sense that they show striving after unfulfilled wishes4 ,whatever may be denied in reality1 we can nevertheless realize in another way--in our dreams4 ,it's a rather pretty thought4 ,he paused a moment4 ,perhaps the dream doctors were not so fundamentally wrong as we think1 even about the future1 he added1 thoughtfully1 though for a different reason than they thought and a natural one4 ,probably more of our daily life1 conduct1 moods1 beliefs1 than we think could be traced to preceding dreams4 ,i began vaguely now to see what he was driving at and to feel the fascination of the idea4 ,then you think that you will be able to find out from ,mrs4 ,wilford's dreams more than she'll ever tell you or any one else about the case8 ,exactly4 ,well1 that doesn't seem so unreasonable1 after all1 ,i admitted1 going back in my mind over what we had learned so far4 ,why did ,doctor ,lathrop say he dissented from the theory8 ,kennedy smiled4 ,many doctors do that4 ,there's a side of it all that is distasteful to them1 ,i suppose4 ,it grates on minds of a certain type4 ,what's that8 ,the sex aspect4 ,sex life possesses1 according to ,freud1 a far higher significance in our mental household than traditional psychology is willing to admit4 ,and ,i don't know as ,i would say ,i'd go the whole distance with ,freud1 either4 ,he paused contemplatively4 ,yet there is much that is true about his sex theories4 ,take an example4 ,there's much about married life that can be learned from dreams4 ,thus1 why ,john ,doe doesn't get along with his wife has always been a matter of absorbing interest to the neighborhood4 ,conversation is taken up by it2 yellow journalism is founded on it4 ,now1 psychology--and mainly dream analysis--can solve the question--often right things for both ,john and ,jane ,doe and set the neighborhood tongues at rest4 ,sex and sex relations play a big rle in life1 whether we like to admit it or not4 ,i see1 ,i nodded4 ,then you think that that's what ,lathrop meant when he said he strongly disagreed with the theory8 ,without a doubt4 ,that is perhaps the part of the theory from which he reacted--or said he did4 ,you see1 ,freud says that as soon as you enter the intimate life of a patient you begin to find sex in some form4 ,in fact1 he says1 the best indication of abnormality would be its absence4 ,sex is one of the strongest of human impulses1 ,craig continued1 as impersonally as if he were classifying butterflies1 yet the one impulse subjected to the greatest repression4 ,for that reason it is the weakest point in our cultural development4 ,however1 if everything is natural there ought to be no trouble4 ,in a normal life1 says ,freud1 there are no neuroses4 ,but how does that all apply in this case8 ,i asked4 ,you must mean that we have to deal with a life that is not normal1 here in the ,wilford case4 ,he nodded4 ,i was convinced of it1 the moment ,leslie called on me here4 ,that was why ,i was interested4 ,before that ,i thought it was just an ordinary case that had stumped him and ,i was not going to pull his chestnuts out of the fire for him4 ,but what he said put it in a different light4 ,so did what ,doyle told me1 especially that sonnet he found4 ,they didn't know it--don't know it yet--won't know it until ,i tell them4 ,that doesn't alter the fact that it promises to be a unique case4 ,he paced the floor a few moments1 as though trying to piece together the fragments he possessed4 ,let me proceed now with a preliminary psychanalysis1 as the ,freudians call it1 he resumed1 still pacing thoughtfully1 the soul analysis of ,honora ,wilford1 as it were4 ,i do not claim that it is final4 ,it is not4 ,but on such information and belief1 as the lawyers say1 as we have already1 we are warranted in drawing some preliminary conclusions4 ,they will help us to go on4 ,if any of them are wrong1 all we need to do is throw them overboard4 ,later1 ,i shall add to that stock of information1 in one way or another1 and it may very greatly modify those conclusions4 ,but1 until then1 let's adopt them as a working hypothesis4 ,i could only wonder at him4 ,it was startling in the extreme to consider the possibilities to which this new science of dreams might lead1 as he proceeded to illustrate it by applying it directly to a concrete case which ,i had seen4 ,you recall what ,leslie told us1 what ,mrs4 ,wilford told us1 and what ,doctor ,lathrop later confirmed--her dream of fear8 ,craig went on4 ,at present1 ,i should say that it was a dream of what we call the fulfilment of a repressed wish4 ,dreams of fear are always important4 ,just consider fear for a moment4 ,fear in such a dream as this nearly always denotes a sexual idea underlying the dream4 ,in fact1 morbid anxiety means surely unsatisfied love4 ,the old ,greeks knew it4 ,their gods of fear were born of the goddess of love4 ,consequently1 in her dream1 she feared the death of her husband because1 unconsciously1 she wished it4 ,i was startled1 to say the least4 ,but1 ,craig1 ,i remonstrated1 the very idea is repulsive4 ,i don't believe for a moment she is that kind of woman4 ,it's impossible4 ,take this idea of dream-death of one who is living1 ignored ,kennedy4 ,if there is sorrow felt1 then there is some other cause for the dream4 ,but if there is no sorrow felt1 then the dreamer really desires the death or absence of the person dreamed about4 ,perhaps ,i did put it a little too sweepingly1 he modified2 but when all the circumstances are considered1 as ,i have considered them in this case already1 ,i feel sure that the rule will apply here4 ,better not tell that to ,doyle1 ,i remarked4 ,judging by his attitude toward ,honora ,wilford1 he'd arrest her on sight1 if he knew what you just said4 ,i shall not tell ,doyle4 ,a little knowledge is a dangerous thing to ,doyle4 ,i haven't indicted her--yet4 ,turning the thing over in my mind1 ,i found it even more and more distasteful1 and ,i could not resist expressing myself rather strongly to that effect4 ,i expected to have you quarrel with that conclusion1 smiled ,kennedy1 calmly4 ,people always do1 until they understand4 ,let me explain more fully what ,i mean4 ,remember1 first1 that in childhood death is synonymous with being away4 ,and many of our dreams are only survivals of childhood1 like the falling dreams4 ,take the night-shirt dream4 ,i suppose that1 in common with some other millions of mortals1 you have dreamed of traveling on the ,subway1 we'll say1 lightly clad4 ,no one noticed it4 ,yes1 ,i laughed4 ,only1 finally ,i knew it--and how ,i have sneaked back home by deserted streets1 afraid to be seen4 ,yet1 when ,i met any one1 as you say1 the person didn't seem to be embarrassed--not a tenth as much as ,i4 ,it speaks well for you1 nodded ,kennedy1 with mock gravity4 ,if you had felt that others saw and knew your shame1 it would mean something entirely different4 ,as it is1 it is simply one of those survivals of childhood in which there is no sense of shame over nakedness4 ,other people don't show it1 either4 ,but1 later in life1 you learned shame4 ,that's where your psychic censor comes in and makes you sneak home by the byways and hedges4 ,and1 still1 others don't feel as you do about it in the dream4 ,if they did1 ,i'm afraid it might show your moral sense a bit perverted4 ,however1 that's just an illustration of what ,i mean when ,i say that the death-dream may often be a childhood survival4 ,i listened without comment1 for ,craig was interesting1 now4 ,to get back to the case we have1 he resumed4 ,take1 for example1 a girl who sees in her dream that her mother is dead4 ,it may mean many things4 ,but perhaps it means only that she wishes her mother away so that she may enjoy some pleasure that her strict parent by her presence denies4 ,that's a more or less parallel case1 you see4 ,even though ,i was now more willing than before to admit the interpretation as applied to ,honora ,wilford1 ,i was not prepared to admit the theory4 ,though ,i said nothing about it1 ,i was afraid that such dream analysis was pointing too strongly to ,honora herself as one who unconsciously wished her husband out of the way4 ,the idea repelled me at the same time that it fascinated4 ,i realized what wide possibilities it opened4 ,of all dreams1 continued ,kennedy1 anxiety-dreams are among the most interesting and important4 ,anxiety may originate in psychosexual excitement--the repressed libido1 or desire1 as the ,freudians call it4 ,neurotic fear has its origin in sexual life and corresponds to a libido1 or desire1 which has been turned away from its object and has not succeeded in being applied4 ,that may be true1 ,i admitted1 but don't you think it's a bit raw to accuse ,honora of desiring the death of ,vail ,wilford just because she didn't love him8 ,i'd hate to be a juryman in a case like that6 ,raw8 ,is it8 repeated ,kennedy4 ,that is1 is it in a dream8 ,just dissociate dreams from facts1 ,walter4 ,take the case4 ,you see1 that fits splendidly so far with what we know of her--her secret regard for ,shattuck surviving after the broken engagement2 her apparent coldness2 her very real lack of feeling for her husband2 the superficiality of it all2 love not really felt1 but shown because the world must see and it was the proper thing for her to show--even if in her heart she did not feel it4 ,i know all that1 ,i insisted4 ,but1 perhaps1 after all1 ,lathrop may have some right on his side4 ,must one incriminate oneself by dreams8 ,kennedy shook his head4 ,often dreams that are apparently most harmless turn out to be sinister1 if we take the pains to interpret them4 ,all have the mark of the beast4 ,for instance1 practically all so-called day dreams of women are erotic in their inception4 ,those of men may be so1 but quite as often are likely to be dreams of ambition more than of love4 ,one cannot say that this distinction will always be4 ,it is hard to predict what may happen in the future4 ,perhaps modern social conditions may change the very nature of woman--perhaps her ambition for a 'career' may submerge her emotional life4 ,but--well1 ,i doubt it4 ,a few years don't wipe out the evolution and instincts of countless ages4 ,besides1 ,nature can be trusted to take care of herself4 ,sexless women won't have children--then after whom will the next generation after them take8 ,but is that all there is to the dream theory8 ,i asked1 nodding agreement on ,kennedy's prediction4 ,not a bit of it4 ,even those brief dreams that she has told will bear hours of study and analysis4 ,building up her true1 inward character is like laying mosaic4 ,you add here a bit1 there a bit1 here a stone of one color1 there of another4 ,it takes patience and study4 ,when the pieces are all fitted together the picture will be very different from what even an intimate friend thinks2 yes1 different from what she herself in her own inmost heart thinks herself to be4 ,he paused a moment1 as though turning the dreams over in his mind to see whither they led4 ,there's another feature of her dream ,i want to call your attention to1 he went on1 and that is the crowd as she fled from the bull4 ,crowds in dreams usually denote a secret4 ,whatever her true feelings toward ,shattuck1 she believes them to be locked in her own heart4 ,again1 when she was pursued across the field she said she could feel the hot breath of the beast as he pursued her4 ,from that ,i would assume at least that she knows that ,shattuck loves her4 ,then she stumbled and almost fell4 ,that can have but one meaning--her fear of becoming a fallen woman4 ,but she caught herself and ran on1 in the dream4 ,she escaped4 ,what of the dream about ,lathrop8 ,i asked4 ,we'll take that up later and try to interpret it4 ,i am not sure of that one1 myself4 ,as for the others1 ,i don't mean to say that ,i've put a final interpretation on them1 either4 ,some things1 such as ,i've told you1 ,i know4 ,but there are others still to be discovered4 ,just now the important thing is to get an understanding of ,honora herself4 ,he took a turn up and down the floor of the laboratory4 ,honora ,wilford1 he said1 slowly1 at last1 is what the specialists would call a consciously frigid1 unconsciously passionate woman4 ,he paused significantly1 then went on3 ,i suppose there have been many cases where an intellectual woman has found herself attracted almost without reason toward a purely physical man4 ,you find it in literature continually--in the caveman school of fiction1 you know4 ,as an intellectual woman1 ,honora may suppress her nature4 ,but sometimes1 we believe1 ,nature will and does assert herself4 ,kennedy considered the laboratory impatiently4 ,no package from ,leslie yet4 ,i hardly know what to do--unless--yes--that is the thing1 now that ,i have had time to think this all out4 ,i must see ,mrs4 ,wilford again--and alone4 ,,iv ,,the ,,hesitation ,,complex ,honora ,wilford was still in the apartment where we had left her under the watchful care of one of ,doyle's men4 ,undoubtedly she felt no disposition to stir out1 for if she went out it was certain that she would have gone under the most galling espionage4 ,it must have been maddening to a woman of her temperament and station in life to find herself so hedged about by restriction4 ,doubtless it was just that that ,doyle had intended1 in the hope that the strain to which he subjected her by it would shake her poise4 ,nevertheless1 she received us with at least outward graciousness4 ,perhaps it was that she recognized some difference in the treatment which ,kennedy accorded her over that from those whom ,doyle had seen fit to place in charge of the apartment where once she had been mistress4 ,at any rate1 ,i thought she acted a bit weary and ,i felt genuinely sorry for her as she received us and questioned us with her eyes4 ,i've been very much interested in those dreams of yours1 remarked ,kennedy1 endeavoring not to betray too much of the source of his information1 for obvious reasons4 ,doctor ,leslie has told me of some of them--and ,i tried to get ,doctor ,lathrop to tell me of the others4 ,indeed8 she queried merely1 her large eyes bent on ,kennedy in doubt1 although she did not betray any trepidation about the subject4 ,i wonder whether you would mind writing them down for me8 ,craig asked1 quickly4 ,i've already done so once for ,doctor ,lathrop1 she answered1 as though trying to avoid it4 ,yes1 agreed ,kennedy1 quickly2 but ,i can hardly expect him to let me see them--professional ethics and all that sort of thing1 you know1 forbid4 ,i suppose so1 she replied1 with a little nervous smile4 ,oh1 if you really want me to do so1 ,i suppose ,i can write them out again1 of course--write them the best ,i can recollect4 ,it would be of great assistance indeed1 ,i can assure you1 encouraged ,kennedy4 ,honora1 without another demur1 walked over to a little writing-desk which seemed to be her own4 ,kennedy followed and placed a chair for her4 ,then he stepped back1 though not so far but that he could watch her4 ,a moment she paused1 toying with her fountain-pen1 then began to write4 ,my most frequent dream is a horrible one1 she began1 writing in a firm hand1 although she knew that she was observed and was weighing every word and action4 ,i have dreamed ever so many times that ,i saw ,vail in a terrific struggle4 ,i could not make out who or what it was with which he struggled4 ,at this point she seemed to hesitate and pause4 ,i saw that ,kennedy was carefully noting it and every mood and action she exhibited4 ,then1 after a moment1 gathering herself together again1 she wrote on3 ,i tried to run to him4 ,but something seemed to hold me back4 ,i could not move4 ,again she paused1 then very slowly began to write on another line4 ,then the scene shifted like a motion picture4 ,i saw a funeral procession and in the coffin ,i could see a face4 ,in all my dreams it has been the face of ,vail4 ,as she finished1 she seemed now to be struggling with her emotions4 ,the more ,i saw of ,honora ,wilford1 the more ,i was unable to resist the fascination of studying her4 ,she was a woman well worth study--a woman of baffling temperament1 high-strung1 of keen perception1 yet always in the face of even such circumstances as these keeping herself under seemingly perfect control4 ,always ,i found myself going back again to my original impression of her4 ,somehow1 indefinably1 ,i felt that there was something lacking in this woman's life4 ,was it1 as ,i had believed at first1 heart8 ,i wondered whether1 after all1 there had been lacking in this woman's life some big experience1 whether ever she had really loved4 ,i knew well what would have been the answer one might have received if she had been questioned4 ,she would have pointed immediately to her married life as proof that she had loved--at least once upon a time4 ,and yet1 was it proof8 ,had she loved ,vail ,wilford deeply8 ,the fact was that ,i did not1 could not feel entirely unsympathetic toward her4 ,somehow1 ,i felt1 it could not have been entirely her fault1 that she must have been the victim of circumstances or prejudices over which she had no control4 ,at any rate1 ,i determined that whatever lay at the bottom of it all was well worth our study and discovery4 ,i hoped that the case would last4 ,i wanted to see its development1 and1 if by any chance it was possible1 the development of ,honora herself1 for ,i felt that once the gap1 whatever it was and however it had arisen in her life1 was closed she would be a most wonderful woman4 ,at times when ,i thought of the manner of ,doyle and his men toward her1 it made me boil over4 ,as for ,kennedy1 it was different4 ,i did not understand ,craig in this matter4 ,yet ,i knew him better than perhaps any one else4 ,whatever lay back of ,craig's actions1 always ,i knew there was sympathy4 ,some may have thought him cold1 but ,i knew better4 ,kennedy had always represented to me science with a heart4 ,as for ,doyle--he was neither4 ,kennedy's voice recalled me to the matter of immediate importance before us4 ,there was also that dream of ,doctor ,lathrop about which you told me1 in which he appeared as a lion1 suggested ,kennedy1 as she stopped writing and handed him what she had written4 ,this is very good--just what ,i want1 as a matter of fact4 ,won't you write that other dream for me1 also8 ,with an air of resignation1 as though she felt she was in our hands and had determined that her acts would be above criticism1 she turned again to her desk1 picked up the pen she had laid down1 and wrote on a fresh sheet of paper3 ,in the dream ,i seemed to be going along a rocky path4 ,it was narrow1 and as ,i turned a bend there was a bearded lion in the way4 ,i was terribly frightened4 ,i woke up4 ,she began a new line and added3 ,the lion seemed to have a human face4 ,it seemed to resemble ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,i contrasted the writing of this dream with the other4 ,at least there had been no hesitation in writing this1 ,i observed1 whatever that might mean4 ,already ,i was coming to have some respect for the dream theory which ,i would have ridiculed only a few hours before ,kennedy began to convince me4 ,honora laid down the pen and glanced up rather wearily as ,kennedy ran his eye over what she had written4 ,much as it all aroused her curiosity1 plainly the whole proceeding on the part of ,craig was a sealed book to her4 ,there's just another dream1 or1 rather1 two dreams1 he said1 in a moment1 that interested me almost as much when ,i heard of them4 ,doctor ,lathrop happened to mention them without telling them and ,i'd like to get them from you4 ,she glanced at him covertly1 as much as to say1 ,so1 then1 you have been talking about me to him8 but she controlled whatever remark was on her tongue and said nothing4 ,instead1 obediently again1 she picked up the pen and wrote1 while we waited and the minutes passed4 ,only now it seemed that she was writing more carefully1 both taking more time over the actual legibility and the choice of words4 ,i seemed to be attacked by a bull1 she detailed4 ,it was in a great field and ,i fled from it over the field4 ,but it pursued me4 ,it seemed to gain on me4 ,it was evident that she was not writing this dream with the facility with which she had set down the others4 ,she paused as she came to the chase by the bull and seemed to think about what next to say4 ,then she wrote3 ,it was very close4 ,then1 in my dream1 in fright1 ,i ran faster over the field4 ,i remember ,i hoped to gain a clump of woods4 ,as ,i ran ,i stumbled and would have fallen4 ,but ,i managed to catch myself in time4 ,i ran on4 ,i expected momentarily to be gored by the bull4 ,that seemed to be the end of the dream--with me running and the bull gaining on me4 ,she did not pause1 however1 except to skip a line1 but began writing again3 ,then the dream changed4 ,i seemed to be in the midst of a crowd4 ,in the place of the bull pursuing me there was now a serpent4 ,it reared its head angrily and crept over the ground after me and hissed4 ,it seemed to fascinate me4 ,i trembled and could not run4 ,my terror was so great that ,i awoke4 ,she was about to lay the pen down again1 as though glad of the opportunity1 when ,kennedy asked1 with no intention of stopping so soon1 ,were there not faces on these animals8 ,the faces seemed to be human1 she murmured1 evasively1 still looking at what she had written for him1 and making no effort to amend or correct it4 ,human8 repeated ,kennedy4 ,did they bear a resemblance to any one you know8 ,she looked up from the writing and met his eyes directly in a perfectly innocent stare4 ,the faces seemed to be human1 she repeated1 but ,i did not recognize them4 ,what did it mean8 ,i knew she was not telling the truth4 ,kennedy knew it4 ,did she know that he knew it8 ,if she did1 it had no outward effect on her4 ,it is all very hazy to me1 she insisted4 ,i wondered what had been the reason of her hesitation and her final decision not to tell us what she had evidently told ,doctor ,lathrop on the first telling of the dream4 ,surely1 ,i reasoned1 there must be some reason back of this concealment4 ,i was forced to be content to wait in order to question ,kennedy to learn what his own impressions were4 ,any betrayal now1 before her1 might entirely upset his nicely laid plans1 whatever they were4 ,she seemed to expect a further quizzing and to steel herself in preparation for it4 ,evidently ,doyle's manner and methods had taught her that4 ,are those all the dreams you can remember8 ,craig asked4 ,i fancied that there was an air of relief in her manner1 though she would not1 for the world1 have betrayed it before us4 ,for a moment she thought1 as if glad to get away from something that had troubled her greatly4 ,when she spoke her voice and manner were subdued4 ,there is one other1 she replied4 ,will you write it8 asked ,kennedy1 before she had time to change her mind4 ,if you really care to have it4 ,very much1 he urged4 ,again she turned as though escaping something and wrote3 ,i seemed to be walking through a forest with ,vail4 ,i don't know where we were going1 but ,i seemed to have difficulty in getting there4 ,vail was helping me along4 ,it was up-hill4 ,finally1 when we got almost to the top of the hill1 ,i stopped4 ,i did not go any farther1 though he did4 ,here again she hesitated1 then wrote slowly1 ,then ,i seemed to meet-- and stopped4 ,honora glanced up1 saw ,kennedy watching her1 and turned hurriedly1 adding1 --a woman4 ,she did not pause after that1 but wrote3 ,just then she cried that there was a fire4 ,i turned around and looked4 ,there was a big explosion and everybody ran out of the houses1 shrieking4 ,you say you saw a woman8 asked ,craig1 almost before she had finished writing4 ,who was she8 ,i do not know who she was--a--just a woman4 ,by this time ,i1 too1 was narrowly watching ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,she seemed to have a most remarkable composure1 except for an almost imperceptible moment of hesitation now and then4 ,in fact1 the hesitation would have passed unnoticed had not one been on the lookout4 ,i think it was now that she realized that there was something going on in ,kennedy's mind and in his method of questioning her that she did not understand4 ,it was as though in taking refuge from answering one question--about the faces on the bull and the serpent--she had run directly into another question which she was equally averse to answering frankly4 ,i was now convinced that a large part of her frankness with us was mere pose1 that she knew ,kennedy had penetrated it1 and that the discovery alarmed her4 ,kennedy also saw that she had understood4 ,it was as though it had been a cue4 ,instantly he threw off the mask4 ,are you sure that it was not ,vina ,lathrop8 he shot out quickly4 ,for just a fraction of a second she was startled1 almost disconcerted4 ,but instantly she regained her control4 ,yes1 she answered1 positively4 ,i am sure it was not4 ,it was no one ,i know4 ,yet ,i was somehow more than ever convinced that she meant ,vina ,lathrop1 after all--,vina1 who was of quite a different type from herself4 ,what it all meant was another question4 ,i knew that we should have taken a long step toward the discovery if we could only have got her to admit it4 ,but she was keenly on guard now4 ,there was not a chance of a direct admission strong enough1 though the indirect admission was4 ,no one8 pressed ,kennedy4 ,think6 ,no1 no one6 ,oh1 why must ,i be badgered and hounded this way8 she burst forth4 ,what have ,i done8 ,am ,i not grief-stricken enough as it is8--,i hate--you--all6 ,it was the first time that she had let this undercurrent of her feelings leap to the surface1 beyond control4 ,she seemed to realize it1 and instantly to repress it1 as she stood there1 her great1 lustrous eyes fixed upon us--with defiance mixed with fear and doubt4 ,it was startling1 dramatic1 cruel1 perhaps merciless--this dissecting of the soul of the handsome woman before us4 ,but it had come to a point where it was absolutely necessary to get at the truth4 ,at least ,kennedy seemed convinced that locked in her heart was the key to the mystery4 ,honora1 hitherto almost pallid1 was now flushed and indignant4 ,for the first time we saw a flash of real feeling and ,i knew that underneath her conventional exterior a woman existed--very real1 capable of the heights of feeling and passion when once aroused4 ,it made me more than ever sympathetic toward her4 ,i longed to help her1 yet there seemed no way to do so4 ,only ,honora might work out ,honora's salvation4 ,it was then and later that ,i realized that the very manner of her indignation showed the truth of the new psychology of dreams1 for1 as ,i later learned1 people often become indignant when the analyst strikes what is called by the new psychologists the main complex of ideas4 ,kennedy evidently concluded that his examination had gone far enough1 that to pursue it would be only to antagonize her unnecessarily4 ,that would never do so early in the case4 ,accordingly he apologized as gracefully as an inquisitor could1 and we excused ourselves1 though ,honora's gaze followed him defiantly to the door4 ,well--we're in bad with her now1 ,i whispered1 as we gained the outside1 in the private hallway4 ,that's most unfortunate1 he agreed1 though it did not seem to worry him much4 ,but you know by this time1 ,walter1 that man-hunting is not a popular occupation--and woman-hunting is even less so4 ,he stopped a moment1 looked back1 sighed1 and added1 ,it is the penalty ,i must pay4 ,in the hall1 ,craig stopped a moment to speak to ,doyle's man1 ,mc,cabe1 a thick-necked fellow1 square-jawed and square-toed1 of the flatty type4 ,mr4 ,doyle isn't here1 ,i suppose8 ,no1 sir4 ,gone down to ,mr4 ,wilford's office4 ,telephone call that there's something new there4 ,i see4 ,is the maid1 ,celeste1 here8 ,yes1 sir4 ,queer girl--pretty--,french--but ,i can't seem to 'make' her4 ,kennedy passed over the impertinence of the slang4 ,evidently ,mc,cabe considered flirtations with maids his prerogative4 ,i'd like to see her4 ,mc,cabe led us down the hall1 and soon we found ,celeste1 a young and remarkably beautiful girl4 ,one could see traces of sorrow on her face1 which was exceedingly1 though not unpleasingly1 pale4 ,she was dressed in black1 which heightened the pallor of her face and excited a feeling of mingled respect and interest4 ,there was1 however1 a restless brilliancy of her eyes and a nervousness which was expressed by the constant motion of her slender fingers4 ,she shrank from ,mc,cabe1 and her confidence was not restored even after ,kennedy had ordered him to leave us alone with her so that we might question her4 ,oh1 these horrible detectives6 she murmured4 ,it is terrible4 ,they will drive me crazy4 ,pauvre1 pauvre madame6 ,kennedy had sought this opportunity to question her about ,vail ,wilford alone4 ,but1 as he plied her with questions1 she had little to say either about him or about her mistress4 ,she was evidently well trained4 ,did you ever see ,mr4 ,wilford or ,mrs4 ,wilford with ,mrs4 ,vina ,lathrop8 asked ,kennedy1 suddenly4 ,celeste shook her head with a nave stare4 ,nevair4 ,but1 madame--did she not know her8 ,celeste merely shrugged4 ,wasn't she jealous of ,mr4 ,wilford--and some one8 ,celeste regarded him a moment4 ,her quick mind seemed to race ahead toward the implication of the remark4 ,no--no--no6 cried ,celeste1 vehemently4 ,she was not jealous4 ,she would never have done such a thing4 ,she might have left monsieur--but--violence--nevair6 ,kennedy continued with a few inconsequential questions4 ,then from a table in the room he picked up a magazine4 ,as he ran over the pages he stopped before a picture of a dinner in a fashionable restaurant1 such as delights the heart of the modern magazine illustrator to portray4 ,he turned the picture around and held it before ,celeste for just a few instants1 perhaps ten seconds4 ,then he closed the magazine quickly4 ,it seemed to me to be a purposeless action1 but ,i was not surprised when ,kennedy added1 ,now tell me what you saw4 ,celeste by this time was quite overwhelming in her desire to please on anything but the quizzing about her mistress4 ,quickly she enumerated the objects1 gradually slowing down as the number became exhausted4 ,were there any flowers8 asked ,kennedy4 ,oh yes--and favors1 too1 you call them8 ,i could see no reason at all in the proceeding1 yet ,i knew ,kennedy too well to suppose that he had not some purpose4 ,the questioning thus strangely over1 ,kennedy withdrew1 leaving ,celeste more mystified than ever4 ,well1 ,i exclaimed1 what was all that kindergarten stuff8 ,that8 he explained4 ,it is known to criminologists as the ',aussage test4' ,just try it sometime when you get a chance4 ,if there are1 say1 fifty objects in a picture1 normally a person may recall perhaps twenty of them4 ,i see1 ,i nodded4 ,a test of memory4 ,more than that1 he replied4 ,you remember that1 at the end1 ,i suggested that she might have overlooked something8 ,i mentioned an object--the flowers--likely to have been on the table4 ,they were not there1 as you might have observed if you had had the picture before you4 ,that was a test of the susceptibility to suggestion of ,celeste4 ,by this time we were on the street and walking slowly back to the laboratory4 ,she may not mean to lie deliberately1 concluded ,kennedy1 but ,i'm afraid we'll have to get along without her in getting to the bottom of this case4 ,there were no flowers there1 yet in her anxiety to please she said there were1 and even went farther and added favors1 which were not there4 ,you see1 before we go any farther1 we know that ,celeste is unreliable1 to say the least4 ,v ,,the ,,psychanalysis ,back at the laboratory again1 we found that not even yet had the materials arrived from ,doctor ,leslie with which to make the examination that ,craig desired4 ,it seemed to me that ,leslie was very slow1 but it didn't worry ,craig4 ,evidently there were other and even more absorbing problems on his mind1 problems that pressed for solution even above the discovery of the poison4 ,what was your idea in having her write those dreams out again8 ,i asked4 ,well--he smiled--,i wanted to see whether she would make any changes4 ,changes in the telling of dreams over again are often very significant4 ,they indicate what the psychanalysts call the 'complexes1' the root ideas1 often hidden away1 out of which many actions and feelings spring4 ,i see--and did you find anything8 ,a great deal4 ,there are some important changes1 some variations between what she told and what she wrote which are very significant4 ,don't you see8 ,it is one thing to tell a dream in conversation--quite another when you calmly sit down to write it on paper4 ,the words take on an added weight4 ,now the next problem is to figure out in my psychanalysis just what it is that these changes may mean4 ,he drew forth the writing she had done and began studying over it carefully for several minutes4 ,finally1 with an air of satisfaction1 he looked over at me4 ,first of all1 he said1 ,i want to consider that dream of the death of her husband4 ,just recall for the moment how she told that dream to ,leslie4 ,he took the paper in his hand and began reading4 ,just listen4 ',my most frequent dream is a horrible one4 ,i have dreamed ever so many times that ,i saw ,vail in a terrific struggle4 ,i could not make out who or what it was with which he struggled4' ,if you remember1 it was at this point that she hesitated in writing4 ,why did she8 ',i tried to run to him4 ,but something seemed to hold me back4 ,i could not move4' ,why was she unable to go to him8 ,what held her back8 ,there is something strange about it4 ,could it have been because she did not really want to go to him8 ,could it have been because she did not love him8 ,i said nothing4 ,it had been the thought in my own mind1 yet ,i had not cared to express it4 ,at that point1 he went on1 she paused again4 ',then the scene shifted1 like a motion picture4 ,i saw a funeral procession and in the coffin ,i could see a face4 ,in all my dreams it has been the face of ,vail4' ,there was no hesitation1 practically no change in that4 ,i noted that she exhibited considerable emotion--that is1 considerable emotion for her4 ,she did not hesitate1 because she does not understand the dream4 ,if she did1 ,i think she would hesitate--even refuse to tell it4 ,i think with that dream alone one might get a pretty good inkling of the state of affairs4 ,i was about to interrupt1 but ,craig hurried right on and gave me no chance4 ,more important1 perhaps1 take that dream of the bull and the serpent4 ,if you recall1 she wrote that more slowly and carefully than the other dream1 choosing her words4 ,there's something significant about that fact in itself4 ,now1 let's see4 ',i seemed to be attacked by a bull4 ,it was in a great field and ,i fled from it over the field4 ,but it pursued me4 ,it seemed to gain on me4' ,that's where the first hesitation came1 and right there we come to a very important 'complex1' ,i think4 ,there was practically no change until we come to this part where the bull chases her4 ,did you get that8 ,i was forced to confess that ,i had not understood4 ,it made no difference to ,kennedy4 ,very patiently he proceeded to enlighten me1 as if ,i were one of his pupils4 ,she omitted something that may be very important4 ,don't you remember when ,lathrop told us she had told him that the bull was so close to her that she could feel its hot breath8 ,i remember now4 ,what of it8 ,very much4 ,for some reason--perhaps unknown to herself--she omits all mention of it in writing it for us4 ,i think you'll understand better as we go on with the dream4 ',it was very close1' he read1 rapidly4 ',then in my dream1 in fright ,i ran faster over the field4 ,i remember ,i hoped to gain a clump of woods4 ,as ,i ran1 ,i stumbled and would have fallen4 ,but ,i managed to catch myself in time4 ,i ran on4' ,i think we discussed that ourselves1 once1 the fear of being a fallen woman4 ,we need not go over it again1 except to point out that her dream shows that1 perhaps unconsciously1 something restrained her4 ',i expected momentarily to be gored by the bull4 ,that seemed to be the end of the dream1' and so forth4 ,now1 the next part4 ',i seemed to be in the midst of a crowd4' ,we discussed that1 too--about the crowd denoting a secret4 ,then comes the serpent4 ',it reared its head angrily and crept over the ground after me and hissed4' ,that's a bit different1 there1 from the way she told it4 ',it seemed to fascinate me4 ,i trembled and could not run4 ,my fear was so great that ,i awoke4' ,all right4 ,here's the point--when ,i questioned her about the faces1 the human faces1 on those animals4 ,she told ,lathrop that the face she saw was that of ,shattuck4 ,but to me she absolutely denied it4 ,she said she did not recognize the face4 ,there's the point4 ,why did she cut out that about the hot breath of the bull8 ,why did she deny absolutely the face of ,shattuck8 ,he was pacing up and down as though he had either made or confirmed a discovery4 ,just consider what ,i told you about the ,freud theory again1 he went on4 ,fear1 as ,i told you1 is equivalent to a wish in this sort of dream4 ,we threshed that all out over my interpretation of the first dream of all--the death-dream4 ,i hope you are beginning to understand1 by this time4 ,but morbid fear also1 as ,i have said1 denotes some sex feeling4 ,now take the last dreams4 ,in dreams animals are usually symbols4 ,in the two parts of this dream we find both the bull and the serpent4 ,from time immemorial they have been the symbols of the continuing life-force4 ,such symbolism has been ingrained in literature and thinking1 both mystical and otherwise4 ,when she felt the hot breath of the bull1 it meant the passion of love in ,shattuck1 who is pursuing her4 ,frankly1 ,i do not think he has ever lost his love for her4 ,and she knows it--at least1 subconsciously4 ,that's what that means4 ,in her heart she knows it1 although she may not openly admit it4 ,also1 she fears it4 ,more than that4 ,dreams are always based on experiences or thoughts of the day preceding the dreams4 ,one doesn't always realize how easy that is4 ,a thing dreamed of may have happened years ago4 ,but if one could recall all the thoughts immediately preceding sleep1 one would be able to trace out some impelling thought1 perhaps on the surface quite unrelated1 which brought it up4 ,the more unrelated1 the more interesting and important the connecting link4 ,there was every chance1 in this case1 of ,shattuck having been suggested to her any day4 ,besides1 she may be thinking a great deal of him--and not realize it--for her moral censorship is always pushing such thoughts back into the subconscious4 ,kennedy regarded me attentively1 then added3 ,she dreamed of a man's face on those beasts--then denied it to me4 ,what's the explanation8 ,i suppose ,kennedy was handing the explanation to me1 but ,i could not quite understand it1 much less express it4 ,easy1 he answered to his own question4 ,she thinks that she hates him4 ,consciously she rejects4 ,unconsciously1 though1 she accepts him4 ,any of the new psychologists who know the intimate connection between love and hate could understand how that is possible4 ,love does not extinguish hate1 nor hate1 love4 ,they repress each other4 ,the opposite sentiment may very easily grow4 ,a proper understanding of that would explain many of the anomalies of human nature--especially in the relations of men and women which sometimes seem to be inexplicable4 ,since our previous discussion on the subject1 ,i had turned it over many times in my mind4 ,it was surely a new situation to me which this application of the new psychology was unfolding4 ,yet1 under the exposition of ,kennedy1 ,i was not so bitterly hostile to it now as ,i had been before4 ,plainly enough1 nothing that ,i had been able to offer to myself had fitted in with what ,i saw in the character of ,honora ,wilford4 ,at least this seemed to fit4 ,you would be surprised to learn how frequently such situations arise1 defended ,craig4 ,i suppose1 to an analyst1 they seem to be common1 because it is only such cases that come to his attention4 ,if one treated only red-haired men1 one would1 no doubt1 soon get the idea that the community was composed mainly of the red-haired4 ,that is just as foolish as to go to the other extreme and to deny that there are any red-haired people1 just because one has never happened to see one4 ,the remark was obviously intended for me4 ,i said nothing1 but ,i was really alarmed4 ,for ,i could see that the case was actually growing very much blacker for ,honora as he proceeded4 ,was not ,kennedy practically taxing her with loving another man than her husband8 ,was he not building up motives8 ,the dreamer1 he proceeded1 is always the principal actor in a dream1 or the dream centers about the dreamer intimately4 ,dreams are personal4 ,we never dream about matters that concern others primarily1 but of matters that concern ourselves1 either very directly or at least indirectly4 ,so it has been with these dreams of ,honora4 ,they concern her intimately4 ,years ago that woman suffered what the new psychologists call a psychic trauma--a soul wound4 ,she was engaged to ,shattuck4 ,we know that4 ,but her censored consciousness rejected the manner of life of her fianc4 ,in pique1 perhaps1 she married ,wilford4 ,it was a wound when she cast aside her first love1 a deep wound4 ,but ,nature always does her best to repair a wound--either a physical wound or a psychic wound4 ,that underlies the psychology of forgetting4 ,honora thought she had found love again1 in the advances of ,wilford4 ,but she had not1 truly4 ,she never lost her real1 now subconscious1 love for another--,shattuck4 ,day by day she tells herself that he is nothing to her1 never really was1 never again can be4 ,she believes it4 ,she lives it4 ,yet1 when that censorship is raised in sleep1 it is different4 ,then he pursues her1 in her dreams4 ,in actuality1 too1 ,i don't doubt that he pursues her1 and she knows it4 ,i'll wager ,shattuck does not dream of her except frankly4 ,he frankly thinks of her4 ,he is still in love with her4 ,it is a tough problem for ,honora ,wilford4 ,i begin to see it more and more clearly1 ,i admitted4 ,dreams are very wonderful experiences1 when one understands them rightly4 ,her dreams1 especially1 agreed ,craig1 fingering the papers4 ,now there's that dream of ,lathrop4 ,i suspect she thinks of him somewhat as of a social lion4 ,and ,i suppose he is--popular1 a club-man1 a lady-killer4 ,perhaps that is why she dreamed of him as a lion4 ,but it wouldn't explain all4 ,i recall he wore a beard4 ,that may have suggested the tawny mane of a lion1 too4 ,the two ideas combined4 ,there is the narrow path1 too4 ,a lion stands in the path4 ,i don't quite fathom it yet4 ,but1 you see1 ,walter1 of such stuff are dream lions made4 ,this fantasy ,i must leave open for interpretation until we understand ,lathrop himself better4 ,about ,shattuck1 ,i reverted1 not quite prepared to pass that point without clearing it as much as possible in my own mind4 ,plainly he cares a great deal for her4 ,i remember seeing one of ,freud's books in his library4 ,suppose he knew her dreams4 ,would he not be able to discover that secretly she cared really very deeply for him and not for ,vail8 ,he might1 admitted ,kennedy4 ,but the problem would be to prove that he did1 ,i supposed1 for ,i was catching at any straw that would save ,honora ,wilford from the logical outcome of ,kennedy's analysis as ,i saw it4 ,craig had come to the last sheet of paper4 ,this is my new prize1 he exclaimed1 waving it4 ,i had some inkling of what it betrays1 but not the certainty this gives4 ,this is an entirely new dream4 ,we have no hastily spoken description with which to compare it4 ,however1 that will make little difference4 ,we'll have to treat it as new4 ,let's go over it very carefully4 ,it may easily prove most important of all4 ,slowly he read it4 ',i seemed to be walking through a forest with ,vail4 ,i don't know where we were going1 but ,i seemed to have difficulty in getting there4 ,vail was helping me along4 ,it was up-hill4 ,finally1 when we got almost to the top of the hill1 ,i stopped4 ,i did not go any farther1 though he did4' ,that's where her first hesitation-break in writing it occurred4 ,so far1 you see1 this is a most intimate dream of their relations1 as you yourself can interpret readily4 ,there were several hesitations grouped here4 ',then ,i seemed to meet'--there was one--'a woman'--there was another4 ',just then she cried there was a fire4' ,what does that mean1 you ask8 ,ever hear love described as a fire8 ,well1 next3 ',i turned around and looked4 ,there was a big explosion and everybody ran out of the houses1 shrieking4' ,i recall vividly what took place when we reached that point1 ,i put in4 ,at the time ,i thought of ,vina ,lathrop1 of what a quite different type of woman ,vina is4 ,vina is none of your consciously frigid1 unconsciously passionate women4 ,vina ,lathrop is throbbing with passion1 as one can see who has ever met her or heard of her4 ,quite so4 ,in this dream there plainly appears the 'other woman' in the case1 the woman who has the passion which ,honora herself does not have4 ,or at least1 so she thinks4 ,she seems to recognize in this other woman a woman of a different nature from herself4 ,and yet1 added ,craig--and yet1 you know1 ',the ,colonel's lady and ,judy ,o',grady--' ,are not only the same under the skin1 to you psychologists1 ,i supplied1 but in the inner consciousness1 too4 ,i suppose so1 he laughed4 ,i considered a moment4 ,was this all confirmation of the rumored relations between ,vina ,lathrop and ,vail ,wilford1 as ,doyle had dug the story up8 ,i recalled the notations that ,doctor ,leslie had discovered on the desk calendar of ,wilford about appointments with ,vina and the contemplated divorce4 ,had a new scandal been brewing and had the sensational press of the city been deprived of it by some untoward circumstance8 ,at least they had no complaint4 ,a greater piece of news had been created to take its place--a murder case which1 now1 bade fair to become the celebrated case of the season when it broke1 as they say4 ,the reason ,i've spent so much time analyzing this new dream1 ,craig continued1 is that there's another very important thing in it--revealed in the hesitation and the changes1 the gaps1 and the additions4 ,it helps us to reconstruct her inner life1 as we could never have got it from herself1 as she could never1 even at this moment1 construct it for herself4 ,into her life--into her dream life1 too--there has come 'another woman4' ,i believe that it is really ,vina ,lathrop4 ,she betrays it4 ,i hate to admit that either ,doyle or ,leslie may be right--about anything4 ,but1 really1 once in a while ,doyle does stumble on something--without knowing even remotely how important the thing may be4 ,i suppose also that that would account for ,mrs4 ,lathrop's interest in us--and the case1 ,i ventured4 ,when we were in the doctor's office ,i thought she was keenly alive to what we were doing and saying4 ,kennedy nodded4 ,it remains to be proved1 however4 ,i knew ,i was on the right track when we visited ,lathrop1 as you say1 and his wife made that remark about ,honora4 ,you see1 intuitively she knows ,honora4 ,she knows her cold nature4 ,before we get through we shall have some interesting passages at arms between these two1 if ,i am not mistaken4 ,already their intuitions have given each an estimate of the other4 ,they are opposing lines--between the two1 it is ,no ,man's ,land4 ,opposites--positive and negative1 ,i tried to express it metaphorically4 ,and the wires are crossed4 ,oh1 ,i know this will be a good case--it always is when there is conflict1 like this1 between two women4 ,speaking of crossed wires reminds me of the telephone1 exclaimed ,kennedy1 energetically4 ,we need not be inactive just because our good friends1 ,leslie and ,doyle1 don't feed grist to our mill4 ,i'm going to see that woman again4 ,kennedy hunted up ,doctor ,lathrop's number in the book and called it4 ,the doctor is out just now1 answered a woman's voice4 ,is there anything ,i can do8 ,is this ,mrs4 ,lathrop8 ,craig asked4 ,i saw that she replied in the affirmative4 ,kennedy deftly explained who we were and recalled our brief meeting of the morning4 ,i'm greatly interested in the ,wilford case1 he hurried on4 ,i would like to talk to you about it4 ,may ,i8 ,there was a bit more of conversation1 then he hung up with satisfaction4 ,she did not welcome it1 he reported4 ,yet she could scarcely refuse to see us under the circumstances4 ,i have made an appointment to meet her4 ,there was a noise at the door and ,i opened it upon ,doyle1 who entered1 his face showing great perplexity4 ,what seems to be on your mind4 ,doyle8 greeted ,craig4 ,enough4 ,we've been questioning the night watchman down at the building where ,wilford's office is1 he informed4 ,you remember the two glasses on the desk when they found him8 ,kennedy nodded4 ,from them1 continued ,doyle1 ,i went on the assumption that somebody else had been there at the time4 ,there was a visitor4444 ,we are convinced of it now4 ,the fact is that the building is an old one1 built before elevator days1 not tall4 ,one can walk up to the office of ,wilford easily4 ,people do4 ,and the confounded watchman1 a man they call ,pete1 confesses that he was off the job1 at least part of the time1 last night4 ,there was plenty of chance for a visitor to have got in and got away4 ,who8 ,i asked4 ,doyle shrugged4 ,we can't find out--at least1 we haven't found out4 ,was it a man or a woman8 asked ,craig4 ,we don't even know that1 confessed ,doyle1 in despair4 ,that fellow ,pete is a dub4 ,how about your suspects8 prompted ,kennedy4 ,you must have traces of their movements last night4 ,i have4 ,i have been questioning ,celeste1 the maid1 for instance4 ,she swears that ,mrs4 ,wilford was at home in the apartment all the evening of the murder4 ,the worst of it is1 ,i can't prove yet that she wasn't4 ,but just give me time--give me time4 ,i'll get something on that maid yet4 ,i glanced significantly at ,kennedy4 ,he nodded back4 ,his ,aussage test had effectually disposed of any reliance that might be placed on what ,celeste might say4 ,however1 ,kennedy said nothing of that to ,doyle4 ,to have done so would have been to invite a tirade of laughter4 ,the only way with ,doyle was to let him go along his sweet way of being wrong--then let him in when we were right4 ,yet1 ,i must say that ,i liked ,doyle in his way1 even if he was only a plugger4 ,another thing1 brightened ,doyle4 ,i'm getting a line on that business of ,wilford's having his wife watched4 ,you know1 he did that4 ,he hired a private detective to watch her4 ,if ,i can get that fellow ,i may learn something4 ,but that ,celeste is clever4 ,she sticks to it that her mistress wasn't out4 ,we'll see if the detective knows when we find him4 ,where were ,shattuck and ,lathrop last night8 asked ,craig1 quickly4 ,shattuck has given a detailed account of his doings last night4 ,i'll tell you better about him when it's verified4 ,doctor ,lathrop had two cases that night1 which kept him out late4 ,i believe they are bona fide4 ,so far there's been no flaw in either story4 ,that's what perplexes me4 ,i thought ,i was on the trail of something4 ,and when you find yourself up against it1 you come to me8 ,don't get peeved1 ,kennedy1 mollified ,doyle1 though he himself had winced at the telling thrust of ,kennedy4 ,what about ,lathrop's wife1 ,vina8 asked ,craig4 ,is she clear for that night8 ,i hadn't thought much about her1 confessed ,doyle4 ,want me to find out8 ,never mind4 ,i am going to see her soon4 ,i'll attend to that4 ,,vi ,,the ,,other ,,woman ,vina ,lathrop received us a few moments later with a question in her eyes4 ,yet she discreetly did not hint at it in anything she said4 ,i have said that she was a woman of quite opposite type from ,honora4 ,like her1 however1 she was a woman of rare physical attraction4 ,yet it needed only a glance to see that men interested ,vina1 and in that respect she gave one a different impression from ,honora4 ,and ,i am quite sure1 also1 that few men could have withstood the spell of her interest if she chose to bestow it4 ,there was1 no doubt1 much in her life that that accounted for4 ,i've been thinking of what you said about ,mrs4 ,wilford this morning1 began ,kennedy1 after a few remarks that explained our interest in the case1 without telling her anything that would put her too much on guard4 ,my remark about ,mrs4 ,wilford8 she repeated1 navely4 ,yes4 ,you remember when you were talking to ,doctor ,lathrop about the case1 you said1 ',i don't think that ,honora is capable of either deep love or even deep hate'8 ,i've been wondering just what you meant by it4 ,vina seemed to be careful lest an unwary word might escape4 ,why1 really1 she murmured1 as though feeling that the question called for an answer she did not wish to give4 ,i don't think that ,honora--well--understood ,vail ,wilford1 if you get what ,i mean4 ,he was not difficult to understand4 ,he would have been devoted to her--if only-- ,she paused and stopped4 ,if only what8 ,you wouldn't understand1 she answered1 quickly1 shaking her head4 ,to me it seemed as though the implication she wished to convey was the usual specious refuge of the other woman1 when cornered1 that it was she1 not the wife1 who really understood the man in the case4 ,you see1 ,i don't know ,honora ,wilford well1 encouraged ,kennedy4 ,i can't say that ,i do understand4 ,i guess that's just it4 ,i thought perhaps you might enlighten me4 ,vina gave a pretty little shrug to her attractive shoulders1 then leaned forward1 as if suddenly deciding to become confidential with ,craig4 ,it's a long story1 she replied4 ,i don't know how to tell it4 ,honora was like her father--in fact1 her family are all the same--always seeking the main chance4 ,you remember old ,honore ,chappelle8 ,no8 ,out of even the business of an oculist he managed to make a tidy fortune4 ,she was ambitious--ambitious in marriage1 ambitious to get into 'society1' you know4 ,don't you see now what ,i mean8 ,besides1 you know1 daughters1 they say1 inherit from their fathers--and she seems to have been no exception4 ,i think ,mr4 ,wilford came to realize why it was she married him1 only1 of course1 in such cases1 it comes too late4 ,i set the remark down as that of a catty woman4 ,yet there was something to think about in it4 ,for1 at the time of ,wilford's marriage1 the young lawyer was already wealthy and in the smart set1 while ,vance ,shattuck had not inherited the fortune of his uncle1 who had often threatened to cut him off without a penny as a reward for his numerous escapades4 ,there could be no doubt that1 at the time1 ,wilford was the greater catch of the two4 ,as we talked with ,vina about the death of ,wilford1 she spoke with ill-concealed emotion4 ,i could not escape the impression that she seemed to be more deeply affected by it than even ,honora herself had been4 ,was it due to her more emotional nature8 ,i would have thought it strange1 even though ,kennedy had not already surmised from his psychanalysis of ,honora that ,vina was the other woman in the case4 ,it was apparent that1 whatever might be ,vina's own story1 she reacted sharply against the very type of woman that ,honora was4 ,there was plainly some rivalry between them1 some point of contact at which there had been friction4 ,it was most assuredly ,kennedy's job to find out what that was4 ,i don't know whether you are aware1 he suggested1 taking a slightly different angle1 but in ,mr4 ,wilford's office they found evidence that you yourself were preparing a divorce suit4 ,the transition from ,honora to herself was sudden4 ,yet ,vina did not seem confused by it4 ,she did not deny it1 or even attempt to deny it4 ,perhaps she realized that it was of no use1 that her best defense was1 as the lawyers would say1 confession and avoidance4 ,oh1 she replied1 airily1 the suit was never started1 you know--just talked about4 ,i could not but wonder at her callousness4 ,evidently this woman was of a type all too common in a certain stratum of society1 to whom marriage is a career to be entered into either for the sake of bettering oneself or for the sake of variety4 ,what1 may ,i ask1 were the grounds8 probed ,kennedy1 growing bolder as he saw how frankly she elected to discuss the subject when cornered4 ,she colored a bit1 as she strove to decide whether to get angry or to answer1 then chose the latter course4 ,incompatibility1 ,i suppose you would call it--at least that's what ,i call it4 ,i believe every woman should live her own life as she sees fit4 ,i hadn't even decided what state ,i would acquire residence in1 in order to bring the suit1 if ,i decided to go on with it4 ,nothing was settled1 you know4 ,and now you are going to--8 inquired ,kennedy1 stopping to let her fill out the answer4 ,drop it1 of course1 she supplied4 ,i suppose the doctor and ,i shall continue to agree to disagree4 ,had ,mrs4 ,wilford contemplated similar action on her part1 do you think8 ,vina avoided answering1 but ,kennedy pressed for a reply1 asserting that ,vail ,wilford must have given some hint of it1 either by his words or actions4 ,i don't know1 she repeated1 firmly4 ,did she know of your--er--acquaintance with ,mr4 ,wilford8 ,if looks had been poisonous1 ,kennedy must have been inoculated with venom right there4 ,he paid no attention to her scornful glances as1 again1 there was no avoidance of an answer1 no matter how much she tried4 ,why do you think you know so much8 ,vina veiled her sarcastic reply4 ,mrs4 ,wilford had been having her husband watched1 ,i learn1 prodded ,kennedy1 with brutal directness4 ,i glanced covertly over at him4 ,doyle had told us ,wilford was watching his wife4 ,but no one1 as ,i recalled1 had given us an inkling of a reverse state of affairs4 ,i realized that ,kennedy had made it up out of whole cloth4 ,he was trying it out to see its effect4 ,at any rate1 there was nothing unreasonable about it4 ,it might have been true1 whether it actually was or not4 ,for a moment ,vina was sorely tried to hold back a quick reply4 ,then she shrugged again4 ,most women of the sort have to do that1 she snapped4 ,it was a mean remark1 besides being glaringly untrue1 except in the limited ken of certain ,new-,yorkese women4 ,moreover1 ,i saw that ,kennedy had slipped past her guard4 ,each sentence she replied betrayed the keen feeling between the two4 ,kennedy seemed to be observing ,vina as he might a strange element in a chemical reaction4 ,on her part she seemed intuitively to recognize that there was a challenge to her in ,craig's very personality4 ,arts which she might have tried with success on another seemed not to impress this man4 ,he seemed to penetrate the defenses which she had against most men4 ,and ,i could not help seeing that she was piqued by it4 ,while they were fencing in their verbal duel1 ,craig had casually drawn a pencil from his pocket4 ,a moment later ,i saw that he had begun scribbling some figures1 apparently aimlessly1 on a piece of paper4 ,from where ,i was sitting beside him ,i could see that he had written something like this3 #eahc #dgcie #fedgbf #bifdcge #dgbichbe #ibdghcfea #badfjfchei ,for some time he regarded the figures that he had written as the conversation went on4 ,here's a little puzzle1 he remarked1 offhand1 breaking into the chat4 ,did you ever try it8 ,vina looked at him in surprise at this unexpected turn of the conversation4 ,i am sure that she was in doubt as to the man's sanity4 ,however1 there was a certain relief in the new turn of the conversation4 ,at least he was not treading on the dangerous ground which he had trod upon4 ,er--no1 she answered1 doubtfully4 ,that is--,i don't know what you mean4 ,what are the numbers8 ,oh1 it's nothing much1 he disarmed4 ,it's simply a matter of seeing whether a person can repeat numbers4 ,i've found it rather interesting at times4 ,without waiting for either comment or excuse from her he said1 quickly3 ,for instance1 take the first one--five1 one1 eight1 three4 ,see if you can repeat that4 ,of course--five1 one1 eight1 three1 she replied1 mechanically4 ,fine--four1 seven1 three1 nine1 five1 came in rapid succession4 ,to it she replied1 perhaps a little slower than before1 ,why1 four1 seven1 three1 nine1 five4 ,good6 ,now1 six1 five1 four1 seven1 two1 six4 ,er--six1 five1 four1 seven1 two1 six1 she repeated1 ,i thought1 with some hesitation4 ,again--two1 nine1 six1 four1 three1 seven1 five1 he shot out4 ,two1 nine1 six--she hesitated--four1 three1 seven1 five4 ,try again--four1 seven1 two1 nine1 three1 eight1 two1 five1 he read4 ,four--two--seven1 she returned1 slowly1 then stopped1 three--nine--what was the next one8--er--two--two-- ,it was evident that she was hopelessly muddled4 ,it was not because she had not tried1 for the diversion had come as a welcome relief from the quizzing on delicate subjects and she had seized upon it4 ,she had reached the limit4 ,kennedy had smiled and was about to go on1 although it was evident that it was useless1 when there was a noise in the hall1 as though some one had been admitted by the maid and had entered4 ,it seemed to be a man's voice that ,i heard and ,i wondered whether it was ,doctor ,lathrop himself4 ,a moment later the door opened and disclosed1 to my astonishment1 not ,lathrop1 but ,shattuck4 ,if he was embarrassed at finding us there he did not betray it in the least4 ,quite the contrary4 ,he greeted ,vina ,lathrop cordially1 then turned to us4 ,oh1 by the way1 he began1 you're just the man ,i wanted to see1 ,kennedy4 ,i thought that there was a note of indignant protest in his voice as he said it1 then1 before ,kennedy could make reply1 went on1 rapidly3 ,about ,mrs4 ,wilford--it's an outrage4 ,doyle and ,mc,cabe and the rest of that precious crew are thugs--thugs4 ,i called there to express my sympathy4 ,of course she couldn't say much--but ,i have eyes4 ,i could see much1 without being told4 ,there she is1 harassed and hounded and practically a prisoner in that place--no one to go to--her husband foully murdered--at least that's what they say4 ,i don't know4 ,she's spied on1 listened to--,i tell you1 it's a shame4 ,they're driving that poor woman insane--nothing short of it4 ,shattuck was evidently genuinely angry and1 indeed1 ,i felt that he was making a good case of it4 ,i looked toward ,vina4 ,she merely tossed her head4 ,evidently she was piqued that ,shattuck should think so much of that woman1 as she doubtlessly would have liked to refer to her4 ,i wondered what might have been the connection between ,vina and ,shattuck1 and determined to watch4 ,more than that1 ,i wondered what could be his purpose in bringing up the name of ,honora before ,vina4 ,had he a reason8 ,did you finally sell the stock8 inquired ,vina of him1 abruptly1 as though wishing to change the subject4 ,of course1 he returned4 ,only to complete the thing you will have to indorse this paper1 he added1 drawing a document from his pocket for her to sign4 ,i wondered whether this reference to a business transaction was a blind to make us believe their relations were merely those of a broker and client4 ,shattuck excused himself to us while ,vina signed with his fountain-pen and as they talked in a low tone ,i saw that she was appealing to him with all her feminine arts4 ,was ,shattuck proof8 ,or was he dissembling so as not to betray anything to us8 ,i remembered the old gossip about ,shattuck4 ,was he still woman-crazy8 ,had ,vail ,wilford stood in his way with both women8 ,it was a queer tangle at best4 ,anything1 ,i felt1 might prove to be the case4 ,at any rate1 ,i was sure that the transaction covered their embarrassment at meeting us4 ,more than that1 it convinced me that there was some connection between ,shattuck and ,vina all along4 ,i had wondered whether it had been she who had telephoned to him while we were at his place that morning4 ,i had not thought of the possibility at the time4 ,but now ,i was sure of it4 ,kennedy rose to go1 and at the same moment ,shattuck also excused himself4 ,we departed1 leaving ,vina1 ,i am positive1 still all at sea as to the purpose of our visit4 ,we departed1 and at the street corner stood talking for a moment with ,shattuck4 ,again1 as though taking the thing up just where he had left it off1 he complained about the shame of the persecution of ,honora4 ,kennedy was non-committal1 as indeed he was forced to be over ,doyle's work1 and after promising nothing1 we parted4 ,in fact1 ,craig said very little even to me as we started around the corner for the laboratory4 ,what was all that rigmarole of the numbers8 ,i inquired1 finally1 my curiosity getting the better of me1 as we entered the ,chemistry ,building and ,craig turned the key in the lock of his private laboratory1 admitting us4 ,part of the ,binet test1 he answered4 ,it is seeing how many digits one can remember4 ,you're not acquainted with the test8 ,it's used commonly in schools and in many ways4 ,well1 an adult ought to remember eight to ten digits1 in any order4 ,a child cannot1 ordinarily4 ,between these1 there are all grades4 ,in this case1 ,i do not think we have to deal with a mentality quite up to the intellectual standard4 ,it's well ,vina ,lathrop isn't here to hear you say it1 ,i commented4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,true1 nevertheless1 whatever outward looks may show4 ,to tell you the truth1 ,walter1 here we have to deal with two quite opposite types of women4 ,one1 intellectual1 as we know1 does not yet know what love really is4 ,in the other ,i fancy ,i see a wild1 demi-mondaine instinct that slumbers at the back of her mind1 all unknown to herself4 ,she knows well what love is--too well4 ,she has had many experiences and is always seeking others--perhaps the supreme experience4 ,he paused a moment1 then added1 estimating3 ,vina is beautiful1 yet without the brain that ,honora has4 ,she is all woman--physical woman4 ,that was what probably attracted ,wilford1 what she meant by saying that ,i wouldn't understand1 although ,i did4 ,in ,wilford's case it may have been the reaction from the intellectual woman4 ,she knows that power which her physical charms give her over men2 ,honora does not--yet4 ,but1 ,craig1 ,i remonstrated1 you do not mean to tell me that you believe that you could sit here in a laboratory and analyze love as if it were a chemical in a test-tube4 ,why not8 he replied4 ,love is nothing but a scientific fact--after all4 ,then explain it4 ,he shrugged4 ,true1 you ask me to explain love and ,i must tell you that ,i cannot4 ,for the moment it looks as though you had me beaten4 ,but think a moment4 ,i cannot tell you why a stone falls or a ,morse signal flashes over a wire4 ,still1 they do4 ,we know there is a law of gravitation1 that electricity exists4 ,we see the effects gravity and electricity produce4 ,we study them4 ,we name them--though we do not understand them4 ,you would not say they were not scientific facts just because ,i cannot explain them4 ,i nodded1 catching his idea4 ,so with love1 he went on4 ,we know that there is an attraction--that is a scientific fact1 isn't it8--which two people feel for each other4 ,society may have set up certain external standards4 ,but love knows nothing of them4 ,our education has taught us to respect them4 ,but above this veneer every now and then crop out impulses1 the repulsions and attractions which nature1 millions of years back1 implanted in human hearts as humanity developed4 ,they have been handed down4 ,yes1 ,walter1 ,i know nothing more interesting than to put this thing we call love under the microscope1 as it were1 and dissect it4 ,i regarded ,craig with amazement4 ,was he inhuman8 ,had he suddenly taken leave of his senses8 ,you mean it8 ,i queried4 ,really8 ,certainly4 ,why1 ,craig1 ,i exclaimed1 some day you1 too1 will meet your fate--you1 the cold1 calm1 calculating man of science who sits here so detached1 analyzing other people's emotions6 ,perhaps1 he nodded1 absently4 ,like as not she will be some fluffy little creature from the ,midnight ,frolic1 ,i added1 sarcastically4 ,it would be poetic justice if she were4 ,and what a life she would lead you--with your confounded microscope and your test-tubes6 ,kennedy smiled indulgently4 ,if it should be the case1 he replied1 coolly1 it would only prove my theory4 ,it's very simple4 ,two atoms are attracted like the electrically charged pith-balls--or repulsed4 ,in love very often like repels like and attracts unlike--the old law1 you know1 as you saw it in the physics laboratory4 ,we see it in this case1 with these very people4 ,all your fine-spun theories and traditions of society and law do not count for the weight of a spider thread against nature4 ,that is precisely what ,i mean by my theory4 ,we are concerned with deep fundamental human forces4 ,you talk as though you had been reading some of the continental writers1 ,i remarked4 ,perhaps4 ,it makes no difference4 ,often much of our own ,puritanism in literature covers a multitude of facts1 as ,puritanism does in life4 ,here's a case in point4 ,facts may be ugly things1 we may not like them4 ,just the same they have to be faced4 ,it won't do just cavalierly to reject things as ,doctor ,lathrop does with the ,freud theory1 which he does not like1 for instance4 ,and who is he that he should set himself up to determine fact and fake8 ,maybe1 if we studied him we'd find he was no different from anybody else4 ,i'll warrant it4 ,i don't care about him1 ,i hastened4 ,but it does rather jar on me to have you speak so positively on affairs of the heart1 ,i protested4 ,you think ,i can't observe them without experiencing them8 ,i don't have to commit a murder in order to study and understand the murderer1 you know4 ,the fact is ,i am perhaps a better judge of some subjects for the mere fact that ,i can observe them from the outside1 as it were4 ,i am not grinding my own ax4 ,i shook my head at ,kennedy's1 to me1 novel theories of love4 ,in fact1 the whole thing1 from his dream interpretation down through each step he took in the case1 seemed almost revolutionary4 ,convinced against my will1 ,i was of half1 at least1 my own opinion still4 ,yet ,i did not feel in any position to combat him4 ,the case would ultimately speak for itself1 anyhow1 ,i reflected4 ,now1 he concluded1 before ,i could think of a retort1 to get back to the case4 ,here are two women who no more understand the impulses that sway them than do the moon and sun in their courses4 ,as ,i said1 fundamental forces of sex are at play here4 ,perhaps even if you were able to get the truth from the various actors in this little drama they themselves could not tell you4 ,therefore1 it is for me to unravel what is a closed book1 even to them4 ,and1 strange as you may think it1 ,walter1 he concluded1 the ,freud theory will do it4 ,already ,i know more than even you suspect4 ,there remains1 however1 the working out of the drama to its climax before ,i can be sure ,i have the truth1 beyond mistake4 ,,vii ,,the ,,crook ,,detective ,we were interrupted by the arrival of ,doyle at the door4 ,with him was a stranger whom he seemed to be virtually forcing along ahead of him4 ,as they entered1 ,i regarded the man carefully4 ,he seemed to have a sort of hangdog look4 ,doyle led him over beside the laboratory table1 near which ,kennedy was standing1 and ,kennedy glanced at ,doyle questioningly4 ,this is ,mr4 ,rascon1 a private detective1 growled ,doyle1 stressing the ,mister insultingly1 and continuing to push the man forward4 ,meet ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,rascon4 ,doyle had evidently the official contempt for the very breed of private detectives4 ,the man bowed stiffly and nervously to ,craig1 who extended his hand1 which the man took rather spiritlessly4 ,altogether ,i thought it a very peculiar circumstance4 ,meet ,mr4 ,jameson1 of ,the ,star1 added ,doyle4 ,it might be well for you to have a few newspaper friends4 ,they might come in handy some day4 ,they tell me a press agent's job is to keep things out of the papers as well as to get them in4 ,rascon smiled weakly as he shook my hand1 and by the clammy touch of his hand ,i knew that he was either very nervous or very ill--perhaps both4 ,tell ,mr4 ,kennedy what you've been doing1 ,rascon1 commanded ,doyle in his best gruff manner4 ,rascon hesitated1 but ,doyle repeated his command1 and in the repetition there was a thinly veiled threat that at once aroused the interest of both of us4 ,what could be the purpose of bringing the stranger to us now8 ,rascon cleared his throat4 ,i've been employed by ,mr4 ,wilford1 he remarked a bit huskily1 to watch ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,what--to trail her8 asked ,kennedy with increased interest4 ,yes1 admitted the man1 reluctantly4 ,as ,i watched him ,i could see that he was of the type that is all too common4 ,his shifty eye1 never meeting yours for any considerable length of time1 made a very unfavorable impression on me4 ,it is not that all private detectives1 or perhaps even a considerable number1 in view of the many in the profession1 are of this class4 ,but there are altogether too many of his type and they are a decided menace to their branch of the profession and to society in general4 ,i refer to the type that euphoniously furnishes evidence--but unscrupulously goes to the length1 if necessary1 of actually manufacturing it4 ,they are to their profession what the yellow journalist is to mine1 the quack doctor to the medical profession--pariahs4 ,well1 prodded ,doyle1 tell us what you found4 ,again there was no answer4 ,come--speak up4 ,tell us4 ,you might as well tell now as to do it later4 ,still he said nothing4 ,slowly ,rascon drew from his breast pocket a tissue-paper flimsy sheet1 a carbon copy of some typewriting1 such as some agencies frequently use on which to make their reports to their clients4 ,read it6 demanded ,doyle4 ,slowly ,rascon read3 ,june #bj4 ,wilford case4 ,operative ,no4 #a4 ,i picked up ,mrs4 ,wilford at the door of the apartment at #aa3ae ,a4,m4 ,she took a taxi to the ,piccadilly ,hotel4 ,there she went in and ,i followed her to the telephone4 ,i got into the next booth and tried to listen through the partition1 but ,i was too late4 ,she left immediately4 ,from the ,piccadilly ,i trailed her to the ,plaza1 just above ,fifty-ninth ,street1 on ,fifth ,avenue4 ,there was a touring-car waiting by the curb4 ,in it she met ,mr4 ,shattuck4 ,i had time to hail a taxi as they were preparing to drive away and followed4 ,they turned and went down-town4 ,i followed through traffic across the ,bridge and through ,brooklyn4 ,on the ,parkway the touring-car pulled away from me1 but not before ,i was convinced it was headed for the ,beach4 ,i had the number1 #igeca1 and the description4 ,at the ,beach ,house ,i picked the car up again4 ,located the parties at luncheon4 ,i waited about4 ,they did not start back until four o'clock4 ,i followed and he left her at the ,subway at the ,grand ,central4 ,she returned to the apartment1 about quarter to six4 ,i waited outside until relieved by operative ,no4 #f4 ,was that all that happened8 ,i asked quickly4 ,they merely rode down to the beach and had lunch together8 ,rascon again did not reply4 ,i could not even catch his eye as ,i asked the question4 ,just a moment1 ,jameson1 interrupted ,doyle4 ,then1 leading the detective on1 ,now1 ,rascon1 what did your employer1 ,mr4 ,wilford1 say when that report was presented to him8 ,rascon colored at the question1 as ,doyle had evidently intended that he should4 ,he never saw it4 ,doyle glowed with satisfaction1 as though he were a lawyer bringing out the facts by cross-examination4 ,he nodded to ,kennedy and me as if we were a jury4 ,doyle was merely getting his facts into the record1 as it were4 ,already he had quizzed ,rascon into a state of anger and resentment out of which the truth might be expected to slip unaware4 ,never saw it8 thundered ,doyle4 ,what do you mean8 ,there was only silence from ,rascon4 ,then1 as ,doyle threatened1 he answered1 surlily1 ,mrs4 ,wilford paid me for the report--that is1 for the copy of it4 ,a moment ,doyle regarded him1 then his virtuous ire rose into towering wrath1 even as though he had just heard the thing now for the first time4 ,she paid you for it6 ,you dirty hound--that's blackmail6 ,kennedy interrupted4 ,is it true8 he demanded1 tapping the sheet of paper which he had taken and read hastily to make sure that nothing had been omitted in the first reading4 ,did she meet ,shattuck8 ,the detective scowled to himself4 ,is it true--tell him1 shouted ,doyle1 brandishing a menacing fist in ,rascon's face4 ,the detective1 himself a bulldozer when he had the chance1 was bulldozed1 even as a ,german might be frightened by a taste of his own frightfulness4 ,n-no1 he stammered4 ,but had you made similar reports to ,mr4 ,wilford8 persisted ,kennedy1 with some purpose4 ,oh yes--but not this one4 ,she paid me for this4 ,i played fair--,i did1 he almost whined4 ,hm6 ,i see1 measured ,kennedy4 ,mr4 ,wilford got similar reports--and believed them8 ,rascon nodded a deprecating acquiescence4 ,i suppose so4 ,he never kicked or asked questions4 ,i guess it was what he wanted to know--eh8 ,it was not the flash of the detective's cynical lying that surprised me1 but ,craig's remark and what might be implied in it by the narrowing of ,craig's eyes as he asked it and received the answer that he had apparently expected4 ,i glanced at ,craig hastily4 ,what did he mean by the inflection of his voice and by the look8 ,hastily ,i tried to make it out4 ,if the report of this ,rascon had been true1 did it not seem to explain and motivate ,honora8 ,but1 ,i reasoned immediately1 even if it were untrue and if ,wilford believed those reports he received and wanted to believe1 was there not just as compelling a situation8 ,the thing was important and dangerous for her1 either way one looked at it4 ,a few more questions and it was evident that ,rascon1 in spite of the baiting that ,doyle had given him1 was pretty well on guard and in control of himself and would admit nothing unless ,doyle had documentary proof or something just as good4 ,doyle1 not wishing to disclose the limit of his information1 turned the interview short4 ,that'll do1 dismissed ,doyle4 ,you may go1 ,rascon4 ,i'll have more from you later4 ,rascon backed out1 sheepishly1 eager to get away4 ,i'll have his license revoked1 muttered ,doyle1 calming down after the stormy quizzing4 ,doyle's contempt for ,rascon knew no bounds4 ,as for ,rascon1 ,i knew the method he had adopted4 ,once ,rascon1 or any of that breed1 had a case involving clients with money1 he proceeded to nurse the case along1 to play one party to the case against the other4 ,but ,i had not often run across cases where the crooked detective1 who is a pest despised by all honest detectives even more than by other people1 had been so brazen about collecting all the traffic would bear from each side1 indiscriminately4 ,why not ask ,mrs4 ,wilford herself about it8 ,i suggested1 as neither ,kennedy nor ,doyle said anything4 ,better not--yet1 objected ,doyle1 hastily4 ,i want to watch her a little herself4 ,i particularly bluffed ,rascon into not telling her a word of this4 ,oh1 that's all right1 acquiesced ,craig4 ,i understood4 ,it was ,doyle's clue4 ,he had been honest about it4 ,he had not held back the information from us4 ,but it was his to pursue1 he figured4 ,as for ,craig1 ,i knew that he would gladly keep his hands off the thing4 ,besides1 there was plenty for us to do in carrying out the line of action which ,kennedy had adopted1 leaving the less subtle things to ,doyle4 ,how did you find out about this fellow8 asked ,craig1 after a little while4 ,you remember ,celeste8 answered ,doyle1 as though he had not yet finished telling us what he had come to tell4 ,the maid8 ,yes8 ,i saw ,rascon hanging about the apartment--trying to see ,celeste4 ,i watched4 ,the dirty dog was trying to sell some more of the stuff to ,mrs4 ,wilford1 the whole thing--make a final clean-up under threat of handing it over to me if she didn't come across4 ,well1 he laughed1 ,i got it1 anyhow4 ,she ought to thank me4 ,i saved her some money4 ,i did not like his tone toward ,honora4 ,well1 he went on1 as soon as ,i got the lead ,i investigated4 ,now ,i'm convinced that ,celeste was the go-between in the transactions4 ,i've made ,celeste confess4 ,she paid him the money for ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,he handed her copies of the fake reports which he agreed to 'kill' if enough was paid for them4 ,oh1 it was a slick game1 taking advantage of a situation4 ,i glanced at ,kennedy4 ,do you think ,celeste can be relied on8 ,i asked4 ,he saw that ,i meant the test of her susceptibility to suggestion and her inaccuracy4 ,ah1 very true1 ,walter1 he remarked4 ,but the reports themselves are incontrovertible4 ,true or false--they were made4 ,some of them ,wilford must have seen4 ,others she must have paid for4 ,but the fact remains1 no matter what ,celeste may be4 ,doyle had been waiting impatiently for us to finish4 ,finally he nodded mysteriously1 then stepped to the door4 ,he opened it1 and there in the hall ,i saw ,celeste herself1 with ,mc,cabe4 ,the detective and the girl entered4 ,celeste stared about1 not quite knowing what to make of the whole affair4 ,celeste1 began ,doyle1 with an easy familiarity which ,i knew the ,french maid resented deeply1 you saw that man who was here and went away8 ,yes1 sir4 ,do you know him8 ,i have met the gentleman--two or three times4 ,what happened on one of these occasions8 ,celeste paused4 ,but ,doyle was a forceful persuader to those who hesitated4 ,celeste evidently considered that she had best say something4 ,that ,i knew was the danger--her readiness to say something1 no matter what1 to follow out some purpose in her own mind4 ,however1 knowing her attachment to ,honora1 ,i felt sure1 as she went on1 that what she was telling us was wrung from her by compulsion and was not said merely as so many words4 ,madame she asked me to hand him an envelope4 ,and what then8 ,in return ,i was to get one4 ,did you get one8 ,yes1 sir4 ,celeste was saying no more than necessary4 ,what was in it8 ,the girl shrugged in her best ,parisian4 ,i may have been convinced that she did know what was in the return envelope4 ,but there was clearly no way to prove it4 ,we were forced to take her word on the matter4 ,doyle himself realized that handicap4 ,now1 ,celeste1 began ,doyle again1 passing over that uncompleted phase1 as though there was much he could have said1 only refrained from doing so to go on to the next point1 what about the belladonna8 ,she used it to brighten her eyes1 returned the maid1 as glibly as if she had practised the reply4 ,i mean--when did she use it last8 ,be careful4 ,i know more than you think4 ,yesterday1 she replied1 in a low voice1 somewhat startled at ,doyle's assumption of omniscience4 ,why8 ,her eyes were dull4 ,she had been crying the night before--eh8 ,there was no answer4 ,ah--then there had been a quarrel between ,mrs4 ,wilford and her husband the day before8 ,doyle's assurance1 like a clairvoyant having struck a profitable lead1 overwhelmed ,celeste4 ,she said nothing1 but it was evident that ,doyle had hit upon something at least approximating the truth4 ,did she threaten again to leave him8 persisted ,doyle1 now taking further advantage4 ,oh--no--no--no6 ,madame would not quarrel4 ,she would not leave monsieur--,i know it4 ,i glanced again at ,kennedy4 ,i saw that he placed no great reliance on what ,celeste said1 unless it were substantiated in some outside manner4 ,it seemed to be about all we could get out of her1 at least at this time4 ,moreover1 following ,doyle's wishes1 we decided to let him handle both the ,rascon affair and such watching and questioning of ,celeste as may seem necessary4 ,kennedy was not unwilling4 ,to tell the truth1 the ,rascon affair was indeed unsavory and a mess we could afford to let alone4 ,that's all1 my girl1 for the present1 concluded ,doyle4 ,oh--by the way--not one syllable of this to ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,and if you breathe a word ,i shall know it4 ,it will go hard with you1 you understand8 ,she bowed and ,mc,cabe took her away4 ,it had been all right while she was with us4 ,but the moment ,mc,cabe loomed up on the scene1 it was different4 ,she tossed her head with offended dignity and marched off4 ,for some moments longer ,doyle and we discussed the new phase of the case4 ,it was greatly to ,doyle's satisfaction that we allowed him to be unhampered in what he had unearthed4 ,it had evidently worried him to think of having us two amateurs dragging across the trail he had uncovered4 ,finally he left us1 satisfied that he had done a great stroke of work4 ,for some moments after he was gone ,kennedy was silent and in deep study4 ,what do you make of it all8 ,i asked1 breaking in on his thoughts1 for fear something might interrupt before ,i could obtain ,craig's personal impression4 ,very important1 perhaps--not for any evidence it may furnish in itself regarding what happened1 for ,rascon confessed that it was all faked1 but important for its effect upon the minds of those concerned4 ,somehow ,i was not pleased at ,doyle's discovery4 ,in my heart ,i was hoping for anything that would relieve the load of suspicion on ,honora4 ,this did not4 ,you see1 went on ,kennedy1 it's not always what people know1 the facts1 that are important4 ,quite as important1 oftentimes1 are the things that they think they know1 what they believe4 ,people act on beliefs1 you know4 ,much as ,i hated to admit it in this instance1 ,i was forced to grant that it was true4 ,that may be1 ,i confessed1 but why did she pay8 ,isn't it likely that it was a frame-up against her8 ,kennedy smiled as he realized ,i was defending her4 ,quite the case1 he argued4 ,i suppose you know that some of these private detectives are really scandalous in their operations8 ,indeed ,i do4 ,then can't you understand how a woman who knows might be driven desperate by it8 ,honora was well informed in the ways of the world4 ,she knew that people would say1 ',where there's so much smoke1 there's fire4' ,i'll wager that you've said the same thing1 yourself1 about articles in your own paper4 ,i nodded reluctantly4 ,it was a fact4 ,why1 this private-detective evil is so bad1 he went on1 vehemently1 that judges ordinarily won't take the testimony of a private detective in this kind of case unless it is corroborated4 ,and yet1 in spite of that fact1 you can always find some one to believe anything1 especially in society1 provided the tale is told circumstantially4 ,she knew that1 as ,i say4 ,and it must have been exasperating4 ,it must have preyed on her mind4 ,no doubt1 if you sift the matter down you'll find that it was just this move on the part of her husband that killed whatever spark of love there might have been glowing in her heart4 ,suspicion does that4 ,i decided not to pursue my own argument4 ,i felt that the more ,i attempted to defend or excuse ,honora1 the more ,kennedy bent and twisted the thing to some other purpose of his own4 ,i could only trust that something would come to the surface that would set things in a different light4 ,doyle had been gone some time and ,kennedy was beginning to get a little nervous over what was delaying ,doctor ,leslie with the materials from the autopsy from which he expected to discover much that would straighten out the tangle of what it really was that had occurred in ,wilford's office on that fatal night4 ,we had about decided to take a run over to the city laboratories to find out1 when the door opened and a hearty voice greeted us4 ,it was no other than ,doctor ,leslie himself1 with an assistant carrying the materials from the autopsy1 as he had promised4 ,the fact was that he had not been so very long4 ,events had crowded on one another so fast that we had not appreciated the passage of time4 ,as the attendant laid the jars down on ,craig's laboratory table1 ,leslie seemed to have almost forgotten about them himself4 ,i've made a discovery--,i think1 he announced1 eagerly4 ,perhaps it's gossip--but at any rate1 it's interesting4 ,fire away1 encouraged ,kennedy1 listening1 but at the same time preparing impatiently to plunge into the deferred analysis might now be made4 ,i stopped at the ,medical ,society1 hastened ,leslie4 ,do you know1 it seems to be the gossip of the profession1 under cover1 about ,lathrop and his wife4 ,news spreads fast--especially scandal1 like the talk of her knowing ,wilford1 which1 thanks to some of ,mr4 ,jameson's enterprising fraternity1 the papers have already printed4 ,well1 from what ,i hear1 ,i don't believe that she really cared for ,vail ,wilford at all4 ,it seems that she was using him just because he was a clever lawyer4 ,as nearly as ,i can make it out1 she had set herself to secure the divorce and capture ,shattuck--wealthy1 fascinating1 and all that1 you know4 ,shattuck--she6 ,i exclaimed4 ,kennedy1 however1 said nothing1 but shot a quick glance at me1 recalling by it our still fresh meeting with both ,vina and ,shattuck1 as well as the visit from ,rascon4 ,i remembered also that it had been evident at our first meeting with ,doctor ,lathrop that he had shown a keen interest in what his wife was doing4 ,had it been really jealousy--or was it merely wounded pride8 ,kennedy still did not venture to comment1 but ,i saw that he was very thoughtful and that his eyes were resting on the book of ,freud which we had been discussing some time before4 ,what was passing in his mind ,i could not guess1 but would have hazarded that it had something to do with ,honora's dreams4 ,at least the recollection of them flashed over me4 ,had ,doctor ,lathrop been the lion in her path1 in some way8 ,what had that dream meant8 ,so far it had not been explained4 ,little more was said1 but after a few moments' chat with ,doctor ,leslie1 ,craig set determinedly to work1 making up for the time that had passed without any laboratory addition to his knowledge of the case4 ,leslie waited awhile1 then excused himself4 ,he had hardly gone when ,craig looked up from his work at me4 ,walter1 he said1 briskly1 ,i wish that you would try to find out more about that story of ,leslie's4 ,seeing that ,i was merely in the way1 as he worked1 now1 ,i was delighted at the commission4 ,i left him as he returned to the work of analyzing the materials ,leslie had brought4 ,for1 ,i reasoned1 here was a new angle of the case--,vina as the cause of all the trouble--and ,i was determined to find something bearing on it to add as my contribution to the ultimate solution4 ,,viii ,,the ,,poisoned ,,glass ,i went out1 at ,craig's suggestion1 eager to discover something more of the interesting bit of gossip which ,leslie had hinted at about ,vina and ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,in fact1 the relations of this pair interested me only slightly less than those of ,honora and ,vail ,wilford4 ,just where to go ,i was in some doubt1 for ,i had not an extensive acquaintance in the medical profession of the city1 in which both ,doctor ,lathrop and ,doctor ,leslie stood high in their respective fields4 ,however1 ,i reasoned that ,lathrop's social position offered a more promising approach than even his professional connections4 ,thus1 ,i determined to reassume the rle of reporter for ,the ,star which ,i had often used before with success in ferreting out odd bits of information of use to ,kennedy4 ,accordingly1 ,i soon found that the best point of departure was ,the ,star itself and to the office ,i went1 hoping to find our society reporter1 ,belle ,balcom1 whom ,i knew to be a veritable ,social ,register and ,town ,topics combined into one quick-witted personality4 ,i suppose1 ,miss ,balcom1 ,i began1 as ,i found her finishing a spicy bit of copy in the reporters' room1 while ,i sat on the edge of her typewriter table--,i suppose you're following this ,wilford case closely8 ,she nodded vivaciously4 ,there hasn't been much to follow yet1 she replied1 eager to get whatever inside news she might for her society column4 ,professor ,kennedy is on the case1 isn't he8 ,you ought to know more about it than ,i do4 ,yes1 he's on it1 ,i replied1 trying to head off any inquiry on her part that might be embarrassing4 ,and already we know that it will be quite involved4 ,i know it1 she asserted1 and1 as we chatted1 ,i found1 to my surprise1 that she did know about the people concerned in the case4 ,you see1 she explained1 when ,i ventured to express my astonishment1 it's my business to be acquainted with what passes as 'news' to the readers of the society page4 ,and then1 too1 you know that scandal and gossip constitute much of the small talk of the social set which figures in the society notes4 ,by the way1 ,i suppose you know about that little affair between ,mrs4 ,wilford and ,mrs4 ,lathrop out at the ,brent ,rock ,country ,club8 ,i was at once interested4 ,it was exactly the sort of thing ,i had sought4 ,no1 ,i confessed4 ,but ,i can quite appreciate that an encounter between ,honora and ,vina would be likely to be spirited--and add to our knowledge of the case4 ,what was it8 ,belle ,balcom smiled breezily4 ,for1 whatever she might say about the smart set1 she had been writing their gossip so long that she1 too1 quite appreciated a choice morsel of scandal4 ,i have noticed that none of my profession ever gets so blas that a new piece of inside news loses its charm--and ,i confess that in that respect ,i am quite like my fraternity4 ,it seems1 she retailed1 that the ,wilfords and the ,lathrops were at the club at a ,saturday-night dance two or three weeks ago4 ,of course1 you know1 the attentions that ,mr4 ,wilford had been paying to ,mrs4 ,lathrop had been noticeable for some time1 then1 and had been the source of a good deal of discussion and comment among various members of their set4 ,of course1 ,i encouraged4 ,well1 it was just a bit more noticeable that night than at other times4 ,mr4 ,wilford was with her practically all the time4 ,of course1 ,honora ,wilford had noticed it1 not only that night1 but many times before4 ,this time1 though1 she overheard one of the other women who didn't know that she was so near1 talking about it and laughing with her partner4 ,that was the last straw1 ,i anticipated4 ,exactly4 ,she waited until she saw ,vail ,wilford for a moment alone4 ,as luck would have it1 he was going for a sherbet for ,mrs4 ,lathrop at the time4 ,mrs4 ,wilford was cutting4 ',i suppose you realize that your wife is present to-night1' she said1 icily4 ',at least one dance is customary to let the world know that a husband and wife are on speaking terms4' ,what did he say to that8 ,oh1 of course he mumbled that he had intended to dance with her next--but he went on and got the sherbet4 ,the next dance he was too late4 ,then ,hades popped loose1 ,i ventured4 ,you might say that4 ,in the middle of the dance1 ,honora ,wilford1 who had declined more partners during the evening than most of the other women at the club had accepted1 rose and deliberately walked across the dancing-floor1 ostentatiously bowing good night to every one as she passed4 ,you couldn't help noticing it4 ,even if any one had missed it1 the summoning of her car would have been enough4 ,it pulled up at the door of the club1 with the cut-out open4 ,it was scarcely eleven o'clock1 too1 and no one was thinking of going home at that time4 ,not a word was said4 ,there was no scene4 ,yet that dance almost stopped4 ,it was interesting1 perhaps important for the case1 yet not precisely what ,i had started out to find4 ,what of ,doctor ,lathrop8 ,i asked4 ,what did he do8 ,he wasn't in the room at the time4 ,he was down in the caf4 ,wilford tried to brazen it out and ,vina acted properly surprised4 ,she can be quite an actress1 too1 when she wants to be4 ,no1 ,doctor ,lathrop didn't pay any attention to it--that is1 not so any one saw it4 ,but ,vance ,shattuck did4 ,i remember him particularly that evening4 ,of course ,i know many of the stories back in his life--and a good deal of what they say about him now4 ,he had been one of the partners ,honora had persistently refused1 but they did sit out a dance together and ,i'm sure it was she that ended the tte--tte1 not he4 ,he seemed to have very little interest in any one else there1 and ,i saw him taking in the whole affair4 ,once he started forward1 as if to offer to escort her home1 then checked himself4 ,i think he seemed to be rather pleased than otherwise at the turn of events in that little affair4 ,playing a deep game8 ,i suggested4 ,belle ,balcom shrugged4 ,i don't know--perhaps4 ,really1 ,i thought at the time that this was not a triangle1 but the making of a fine quadrangle--that is1 she laughed breezily1 if you include ,vance ,shattuck1 ,i guess you would call it a pentangle4 ,at any rate1 all grist for the society-news mill1 ,i smiled4 ,doctor ,lathrop really knew of the incident1 didn't he8--at least1 learned of it afterward8 ,i imagine so4 ,you know the talk about the ,lathrops8 ,i hinted4 ,i think ,i do--and ,i knew it long before this case started people's tongues wagging1 too4 ,i understand it wasn't ,wilford1 after all1 that ,vina was interested in--but ,shattuck himself4 ,so they say4 ,society gets its geometry pretty mixed in some of these angles1 she laughed4 ,but do you think there is anything in the story about them8 ,i asked4 ,you're a very persistent interviewer1 she returned4 ,perhaps--but like the honest ,japanese schoolboy1 ',i ask to know4' ,it isn't interviewing for publication1 you know4 ,really1 ,i feel that if you do know anything1 it is your duty to tell it4 ,you can never know how valuable it may be to the case4 ,of course--if you put it on a high ethical ground1 that's different1 she temporized4 ,i do4 ,listen4 ,a crime has been committed4 ,you have no more right to hold back one fact that may help to clear it up than you would to shield the person who committed it1 in law1 you know4 ,you're right4 ,yes--,i'm convinced that it was the case--that she was merely playing with ,vail ,wilford1 using him to get her freedom from the doctor1 and that she was convinced that all she needed to do was to set herself to capture ,vance ,shattuck and he was as good as hers4 ,that might be true of some men--sometimes1 she added1 but ,mr4 ,shattuck is too--too sophisticated to fall an easy prey to any one4 ,you know1 no woman can pursue him4 ,he is a born pursuer4 ,she paused a minute and nodded frankly at me4 ,no woman should trust him--yet many have4 ,some day1 ,i really believe1 such men always meet a woman who is more than a game-fish to an angler4 ,between you and me1 ,i think ,vance ,shattuck has met her--and that there is nothing he would stop at to get her4 ,but ,vina is not that woman--nor can she understand4 ,yes1 you are absolutely right in what you hinted at regarding ,vina4 ,i think you'll do well to watch the ,lathrops--but mostly watch ,vance ,shattuck4 ,there--,i've said more than ,i intended to say1 already4 ,and remember1 this is not a woman's intuition4 ,i've been watching little things1 here and there1 and putting what ,i know together4 ,now--,i've some more items to add to my column--it's short to-day4 ,really1 you ought to be a detective1 ,i thanked her1 as ,i turned from the desk4 ,you've helped me a great deal4 ,flatterer1 she returned1 picking up a galley proof4 ,come back again4 ,if ,i hear anything more ,i'll let you know4 ,i like ,professor ,kennedy4 ,then it's to him you've been talking--not to me8 ,i asked1 quizzically4 ,or am ,i like ,john ,alden--not speaking enough for myself1 ,priscilla8 ,please--,i must read this proof4 ,no--you're not talking for ,miles ,standish4 ,still1 ,i consider you quite harmless4 ,if you don't go now1 ,i'll make you write the notes to take the place of these turned slugs in the proof4 ,i departed in better humor1 as ,i always was after a verbal encounter with ,belle ,balcom4 ,more than that1 she had given me enough to put some phases of the case in an entirely new light4 ,as ,i hastened back to the laboratory ,i realized that the scheming of ,vina had given an entirely new twist to the case1 one which was beyond my own subtlety to interpret4 ,on the way out of the city room ,i ran into ,brooks1 whose assignment was the ,police ,headquarters4 ,great case your friend ,kennedy's on now1 he paused to comment1 and ,i knew that he was hinting for information4 ,yes4 ,by the way1 ,i replied1 determined not to give it to him1 but to sound him before he had a chance to do the same to me1 what do you fellows up at ,headquarters know about the ,rascon ,detective ,agency8 ,rascon8 he answered1 quickly1 and ,i could see his mind was working fast and that if we needed any assistance in hounding that gentleman1 ,brooks would give it voluntarily1 hoping to get his own story out of it4 ,why1 ,rascon has a reputation4 ,they say he has pulled some pretty raw deals4 ,the city force doesn't think much of him1 ,i can tell you4 ,is he mixed up in it8 ,yes--indirectly1 ,i admitted4 ,i thought perhaps you might keep an eye on him4 ,there may be a story in him4 ,only1 your word on one thing3 ,not a sentence is to go into ,the ,star about him until you've got my ,o4 ,k4 ,i'll promise4 ,what's he done8 ,he does a good deal of shady business1 ,i know4 ,i was not averse to telling ,brooks a bit1 for ,i knew ,i could trust him4 ,besides1 if the truth is to be told1 on a big case it is the newspaper men who do quite as much of the digging out the facts as the police do4 ,the most efficient detectives in the world are the newspaper men--and the regular detectives get a great deal of credit for what the newspaper men do4 ,he has been up to a fine piece of double crossing1 ,i replied4 ,now all ,i can tell you is that ,wilford hired him to watch ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,he faked a good deal--meetings with ,vance ,shattuck and that sort of thing4 ,she gave up to him to suppress some of the fakes4 ,but--well1 ,i'd like to know more4 ,doyle1 ,i think1 has the fellow right4 ,now be careful4 ,don't let either of them know ,i tipped you off--and remember1 your typewriter is broken until ,i tell you it's all right to go ahead4 ,thanks for the tip1 ,jameson1 said ,brooks1 as ,i bustled away4 ,i'll look it up--and let you know4 ,have you found anything yet8 ,i inquired1 half an hour later1 as ,i entered the laboratory and found ,kennedy still deeply engaged in the study of the materials which had been brought over by ,doctor ,leslie4 ,as ,i watched him ,i saw that he was at work over a quantitative analysis1 rather than searching blindly for something as yet unknown4 ,yes1 he replied1 frankly1 to my surprise1 though1 on second thought1 ,i recalled that only when he was in doubt was ,kennedy secretive4 ,i have4 ,what about you8 ,the hint from ,leslie was right1 ,i replied1 and as briefly as ,i could ,i repeated what ,miss ,balcom had told me4 ,kennedy listened attentively1 and when ,i had finished merely remarked1 ,that explains some things that ,i haven't cleared up yet4 ,now tell me what you have found1 ,i urged4 ,i'm very eager to know4 ,it was as ,i thought1 he replied1 slowly1 when ,i talked first with ,leslie and ,doyle4 ,wilford was not killed by atropin4 ,then what was it8 ,i asked1 mystified4 ,you remember1 ,i found his pupils contracted almost to a pin-point8 he asked4 ,yes4 ,was it morphine1 as in the cases ,doyle cited8 ,craig shook his head4 ,no1 it wasn't morphine1 either4 ,i had to go at it with practically no other hint4 ,however1 in this case the elimination of drugs was comparatively easy4 ,i simply began testing for all ,i could recall that had the effect of contracting the pupils of the eyes4 ,there was one thing that helped very much4 ,the contraction was so marked in this case that ,i started off by looking for the drug which occurred to me next after morphine4 ,i don't claim any uncanny intelligence for it1 either4 ,that part of it was all just pure luck4 ,luck be hanged6 ,i exclaimed4 ,it's knowledge1 preparedness4 ,would ,i ever have hit on it by luck8 ,still1 ,i was as much surprised to find it so soon as you are to hear it4 ,i'll concede anything1 ,i hastened4 ,i'm burning with curiosity4 ,what was it8 ,wilford died of physostigmine poisoning1 he answered4 ,i suppose my face wrinkled with disappointment1 for ,craig laughed outright4 ,and--physostigmine--is what8 ,i inquired1 quite willing to admit my ignorance if by that ,i might get ahead in understanding the mystery4 ,what does it do8 ,it's a drug used by oculists1 just as they use atropin1 but for the precisely opposite effect4 ,atropin dilates the pupils2 physostigmine contracts them4 ,both are pre-eminent in their respective properties4 ,used by oculists6 ,i exclaimed1 remembering suddenly that ,honora ,wilford's father1 ,honore ,chappelle1 had been an oculist4 ,kennedy apparently did not wish to encourage my quick deduction1 for he paid no attention4 ,yes1 he repeated1 thoughtfully1 it causes a contraction of the pupils more marked than that produced by any other drug ,i know4 ,that was why ,i tried the test for it first--simply because it was at the top of the scale1 so to speak4 ,interested as ,i was in physostigmine1 which1 by the way1 now came tripping off my tongue like the name of an old friend1 ,i could not forget our first acquaintance with the case4 ,but what about the atropin in the glass--and in the bottle8 ,i asked1 hesitatingly4 ,i did not say that ,i had cleared up the case1 cautioned ,craig4 ,it is still a mystery4 ,atropin has not only the opposite effect on the eye from physostigmine1 but there is a further most unusual fact about the relationship of these two drugs4 ,this is one of the few cases where we find drugs mutually antagonistic4 ,and they are antagonistic to a marked degree in this instance1 too4 ,he paused a moment and ,i tried to follow him1 but was too bewildered to make an inch of progress4 ,here was a man killed1 we knew1 by a drug which ,craig had recognized4 ,yet in the glass on his desk had been found unmistakable traces of another drug4 ,was it an elaborate camouflage8 ,if so1 it seemed to be utterly purposeless1 for1 even if ,kennedy had not discovered the poison1 the veriest tyro at the game must have done so comparatively soon4 ,i gave it up4 ,i could see no chance that the atropin might have been put in the glass either to point or to obscure suspicion4 ,it was too clumsy and a brain clever enough to have conceived the whole thing would not have fallen into such an egregious error4 ,it was too easy4 ,but1 if the obvious were rejected1 what remained8 ,by the grave look on ,kennedy's face ,i was convinced that there was a depth of meaning to this apparent contradiction which even he himself had not fathomed yet4 ,atropin is an antidote to physostigmine1 he continued4 ,three and a half times the quantity almost infallibly counteracts the poisonous dose4 ,but1 ,i objected1 there was no trace of physostigmine in either glass1 was there8 ,no1 he replied1 the glasses are here4 ,i got them from ,doyle's office while you were away4 ,not a trace in either4 ,in fact1 one of the glasses is really free from belladonna traces4 ,the physostigmine ,i discovered was all in the stomach contents of ,wilford--and there is a great deal of it1 too4 ,when you come right down to the point1 we've taken a step forward--that's all4 ,there's a long way to go yet4 ,but what of the physostigmine8 ,i queried4 ,how do you suppose it was given8 ,he shook his head in doubt4 ,i made a close examination4 ,there were no marks on the body such as if a needle had been used4 ,besides1 my investigations showed that a needle need not have been used4 ,there are peculiar starch grains in the stomach associated with the poison4 ,i admit ,i still have no explanation of that4 ,for some minutes ,kennedy worked along thoughtfully over his analysis1 though ,i knew that he was merely endeavoring to determine in his own mind the next important move to make4 ,i think ,i'll vary my custom1 in this case1 he decided1 finally4 ,i'm going to announce what ,i have discovered as ,i go along4 ,if you tell it to one you may depend that it will spread to the others eventually4 ,it will be interesting to see what happens4 ,often when you do that it's the quickest way to have the whole truth come out--especially if some one is trying to conceal it4 ,there was a tap on the laboratory door and ,i rose to open it1 admitting ,doyle himself1 quite excited4 ,what's the matter8 greeted ,kennedy4 ,there's the deuce to pay up at the ,wilford apartment1 replied ,doyle4 ,shattuck called there to see ,mrs4 ,wilford this afternoon and offer her his sympathy4 ,i glanced over to ,kennedy1 who nodded to me4 ,it was evidently the visit about which we already knew4 ,i wasn't there1 went on ,doyle1 but ,mc,cabe was1 of course4 ,i don't know just what happened1 but ,mc,cabe and ,shattuck had some kind of run-in--,shattuck protested against the way we're holding ,mrs4 ,wilford1 and all that4 ,some mess6 ,he shook his head dubiously4 ,why8 prompted ,kennedy4 ,what's the trouble8 ,trouble enough4 ,mrs4 ,wilford's almost in a state of hysteria4 ,when ,i tried to smooth things over she ordered me out of the apartment1 said she'd receive whom she pleased and when and where she pleased4 ,kennedy scowled4 ,i could well imagine ,doyle smoothing anything over4 ,a road-roller would have been tactful by comparison4 ,i think she's breaking1 he pursued4 ,i know ,i'm on the right track4 ,i thought you might like to know it4 ,if ,i don't get a confession--say1 ,i'll eat my shield6 ,with difficulty ,i restrained myself4 ,it was not policy to offend ,doyle1 ,i reasoned4 ,say1 pursued ,doyle1 with a knowing nod1 you remember ,i found out that some one had been at that office the night ,wilford was murdered8 ,yes1 agreed ,kennedy4 ,well--who was it8 demanded ,doyle4 ,who must it have been8 ,who wanted her husband out of the way8 ,isn't it clear8 ,there was no mistake that he implied ,honora4 ,by the way1 interposed ,kennedy1 ,i think ,i've found the poison that killed him4 ,belladonna--eh8 ,no4 ,just the opposite--physostigmine4 ,doyle stared4 ,yet he could not dispute4 ,maybe it was4 ,but it's a poison just the same--ain't it8 he hastened4 ,then he added1 aggressively1 ,i know what ,i'm going to do4 ,i'm going to put a dictagraph in that place4 ,kennedy smiled encouragingly4 ,i knew what his thought was4 ,this was the height to which ,doyle's mind reached4 ,yet1 ,i reasoned1 perhaps it was not without its value1 after all4 ,,ix ,,the ,,association ,,test ,i think ,i ought to visit ,mrs4 ,wilford1 after that1 decided ,kennedy1 the moment ,doyle had left4 ,this case is really resolving itself into a study of that woman1 or rather of her hidden personality4 ,accordingly he doffed his acid-stained smock which he wore about the laboratory1 and we set out for the ,wilford apartment4 ,when we arrived we were not surprised to find ,honora in a highly nervous state1 really bordering on hysteria1 as we had been told by ,doyle4 ,mc,cabe had taken up a less conspicuous place in which to watch her1 from a neighboring apartment in which he had got himself placed4 ,as we met her1 it actually seemed as if ,honora had turned from ,doyle and ,mc,cabe to ,kennedy4 ,were the dreams ,i wrote for you all right8 she asked1 with a rather concealed anxiety4 ,perfectly satisfactory1 replied ,kennedy1 reassuringly4 ,i haven't finished with them yet4 ,i'll tell you about them later4 ,they were all right1 but ,i never have enough of them4 ,i suppose ,doctor ,lathrop used to say that too8 ,she nodded4 ,evidently ,craig had won her confidence1 in spite of what she must have known about us by this time4 ,are there any other dreams that you have thought of since8 he inquired1 pressing his advantage4 ,she passed her hand over her forehead wearily and did not answer immediately4 ,you look tired1 ,craig remarked1 sympathetically4 ,why not rest while we talk8 ,thank you1 she murmured4 ,as he spoke1 ,kennedy had been arranging the pillows on a chaise-longue4 ,when he finished1 she sank into them1 resting her head1 slightly elevated4 ,having discussed the various phases of the psychanalysis before with ,kennedy1 ,i knew that he was placing her at her ease1 so that nothing foreign might distract her from the free association of ideas4 ,kennedy placed himself near her head and motioned to me to stand farther back where she could not see me4 ,avoid all muscular exertion and distraction1 he continued4 ,i want you to concentrate your attention thoroughly4 ,tell me anything that comes into your mind4 ,tell all you know of your feelings4 ,concentrate4 ,repeat all you think about4 ,frankly express all the thoughts you have1 even though they may be painful and perhaps embarrassing4 ,he said this soothingly and she seemed to understand that much depended upon her answers and the fact that she did not try to force her ideas4 ,tell me--of just what you are thinking1 he pursued4 ,dreamily she closed her eyes1 as though allowing her thoughts to wander4 ,i am thinking1 she replied1 slowly1 still with her eyes closed1 of a time just after ,vail and ,i were married4 ,she choked back the trace of a sob in her voice4 ,it is a dream1 she went on4 ,i seem to be alone1 crossing the fields--it is at the country estate where we spent our honeymoon4 ,i see a figure ahead of me4 ,it is ,vail4 ,but each time that ,i get close to him--he has disappeared into the forest that skirts the field4 ,she stopped4 ,now--,i see the figure--a figure--but--it is not ,vail--no1 it is another man--,i do not know him--with another woman--not myself4 ,she had opened her eyes as though the day-dream was at an end1 but before she finished the sentence she had deliberately closed them again4 ,from what ,i learned of the method of psychanalysis1 ,i recalled that it was the gaps and hesitations which were considered most important in arriving at the truth regarding the cause of any nervous trouble4 ,more than that1 as she had said the words1 it was easy to read into her remarks the fact that she knew there had been another woman in ,wilford's life4 ,it had wounded her deeply1 in spite of the fact--as ,kennedy had demonstrated by the ,freud theory--that she really had not cared as greatly for ,wilford as even she herself had thought4 ,even to me it was plain in this day-dream recollection that the man throughout it was really ,vail4 ,she knew it was ,vail and she knew that woman with him was ,vina4 ,but in her wish that it should not be so1 she had unconsciously changed the face on the figure she saw4 ,it was her endeavor to preserve what she desired4 ,she had unconsciously striven not to have it her husband1 as it was not herself she saw in the vision with him4 ,go on1 urged ,kennedy1 gently4 ,is there anything else that comes into your mind8 ,yes she murmured1 dreamily4 ,i am thinking about some of ,vail's clients4 ,about any of them in particular8 hastened ,kennedy1 eager to catch the fleeting thought before she might either lose or conceal it4 ,about any one contemplating a suit for divorce8 ,y-yes1 she replied before she realized it1 her eyes opening as she came out of the half-relaxed state again1 recalled by the sound of ,kennedy's voice4 ,what were you thinking about that person8 ,that he was devoting entirely too much time to that sort of practice1 she answered1 quickly1 avoiding a direct reply4 ,i can remember when ,i first knew him that he was in a fair way to be a very successful corporation lawyer4 ,but the money and the cases seemed to come to him--the divorce cases1 ,i mean4 ,kennedy ignored the last1 explanatory part of the remark1 as though he penetrated that it disguised something4 ,he did not wish to put her on guard4 ,devoting too much time to the practice8 he queried1 or do you mean you think he was devoting too much time and attention to the particular client8 ,honora was thoroughly on guard now1 in spite of him4 ,had she known1 she probably would never have allowed herself to be led along until ,kennedy struck on such an important complex4 ,but1 quite evidently1 she knew nothing of the ,freud theory and trusted that her own control of herself was sufficient4 ,and1 indeed1 it would have been had it not been that the dreams betrayed so much1 that even she did not realize1 to one who understood the theory4 ,she did not answer4 ,who is it that you were thinking about8 persisted ,craig1 refusing to be turned aside4 ,oh1 no one in particular1 she replied1 quickly1 with a petulant little shrug4 ,yet it was plain now that she had been thinking of some one1 both in the last remarks and perhaps in the day-dreams she had repeated4 ,she was now trying to hide the name from us4 ,by this time1 also1 ,honora was sitting bolt-up-right on the chaise-longue1 staring straight at ,kennedy1 as though amazed at her own frankness and a bit afraid of what it had led her into4 ,was it ,vina ,lathrop8 he asked1 suddenly4 ,no--no6 she denied1 emphatically4 ,yet to me it was evident that it most certainly had been ,vina whom she had in mind4 ,the association test of the waking state quite accorded with the results of the dream study which ,kennedy had made4 ,moreover1 it was now evident that ,honora was holding back something1 that she had taken refuge in silence4 ,vainly ,kennedy now strove to restore the relaxed condition1 in which she might let her thoughts wander at will4 ,it was of no use4 ,she simply would not let herself go4 ,deftly he changed his tactics altogether and the conversation drifted off quickly to inconsequential topics1 such as would restore any shaken confidence in him4 ,clearly it was too early to come to an open break with her4 ,besides1 ,i understood1 ,kennedy would rather have allowed her to believe that she had come off victor than to have pressed any minor advantage4 ,please don't repeat this1 he remarked1 as we were leaving4 ,you can readily understand the reason4 ,i quite appreciate the uncomfortable position in which the city detectives have placed you1 ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,depend on me1 ,i shall use every influence ,i have with them to mitigate the hardship of their presence4 ,besides1 ,i know how brutally annoying they can be4 ,you understand--my position is quite different4 ,and if ,i can be of any assistance to you1 no matter in what way1 don't fail to command me4 ,i had expected her to be a bit put out by our continued quizzing4 ,on the contrary1 however1 she seemed to be actually grateful for ,kennedy's sympathy1 now that he had ceased treading upon dangerous ground4 ,thank you1 she sighed1 as we rose to leave her4 ,i feel that you are always trying to be fair to me4 ,kennedy hastened to assure her that we were1 and we left before the final good impression could be destroyed4 ,i consider you an artist1 ,craig1 ,i complimented1 as we left the elevator a few minutes later1 after a brief talk with ,mc,cabe in which ,kennedy urged him to keep a close watch1 but to seem not to be watching4 ,we go to cross-examine2 we leave1 friends4 ,but ,i don't yet understand what the idea was of trying the association test on her4 ,couldn't you see that when we came there she was in a state verging on hysteria8 he replied4 ,no doubt1 if ,mc,cabe had stayed she would have been quite over the verge1 too4 ,but it would not have done them any good4 ,they always think that if any one 'blows up1' as they call it1 they'll learn the truth4 ,that's not the case with a woman as clever as ,honora4 ,if she gave way to hysteria1 she would be infinitely more likely to mislead them than to lead them4 ,besides1 in the study of hysteria a good deal of what we used to think and practise is out of date now4 ,i nodded encouragingly1 not so much that ,i cared about the subject of hysteria1 either what was known of it now or long ago1 as that ,i was deeply interested in anything whatever that might advance the case4 ,perhaps1 he went on1 you are not aware of the fact that ,freud's contribution to the study of hysteria and even to insanity is really of greater scientific value than his theories of dreams1 taken by themselves4 ,study of ,freud1 as you can see1 has led us already to a better understanding of this very case4 ,but what sort of condition did you think her in before you reassured her at the start by the association test8 ,kennedy thought a moment4 ,here is1 ,i feel1 what is known as one of the so-called 'borderline cases1' he answered1 slowly4 ,it is clearly a case of hysteria--not the hysteria one hears spoken of commonly as such1 but the condition which scientists to-day know as such4 ,by psychanalytical study of one sort or another we may trace the impulse from which hysterical conditions arise1 penetrate the disguises which these repressed impulses or wishes must assume in order to appear in the consciousness4 ,such transformed impulses are found in normal people1 too1 sometimes4 ,the hysteric suffers mostly from reminiscences which1 paradoxically1 may be completely forgotten4 ,thus1 obsessions and phobias have their origin1 according to ,freud1 in sexual life4 ,the obsession represents a compensation1 a substitute for an unbearable sex idea1 and takes its place in consciousness4 ,that is1 ,i supplied1 in this case you mean that her husband's lack of interest in her was such an unbearable idea to her that in her mind she tried to substitute something to take its place8 ,precisely4 ,in normal sex life1 as you recall1 the ,freudists say that no neurosis is possible4 ,also recall what ,i said1 that sex is one of the strongest of impulses1 yet subject to the greatest repression--and hence is the weakest point in our cultural development4 ,often sex wishes may be consciously rejected1 but unconsciously accepted4 ,well1 now--hysteria arises through the conflict between libido--the uncontrollable desire--and sex repression4 ,so1 when they are understood1 every hysterical utterance has a reason back of it4 ,do you catch the idea8 ,there is really method in madness1 after all4 ,take an example1 he continued4 ,when hysteria in a wife gains her the attention of an otherwise inattentive husband1 it fills1 from the standpoint of her deeper longing1 an important place4 ,in a sense it might even be said to be desirable for her4 ,you see1 the great point about the psychanalytic method1 as discovered by ,freud1 is that certain symptoms of hysteria disappear when the hidden causes are brought to light and the repressed desires are gratified4 ,but1 ,i interrupted1 how does this analysis apply to the case of ,honora ,wilford8 ,kennedy considered a moment4 ,very neatly1 he answered4 ,honora is suffering from what the psychanalysts call a psychic trauma--a soul wound1 as it were4 ,recall1 for instance1 what our dream analysis has already shown us--the old love-affair with ,shattuck4 ,to her mind1 that was precisely like a wound would have been to the body4 ,it cut deeply4 ,seemingly it had healed4 ,yet the old scar remained--a repressed love4 ,it could no more be taken away than could a scar be taken from the face4 ,yet was not open and visible like a physical scar1 ,i agreed4 ,quite the case4 ,then1 he pursued1 came a new wound--the neglect by her husband whom she thought she loved1 and the discovery of ,vina ,lathrop as the trouble-maker4 ,i begin to see1 ,i returned4 ,those two sets of facts1 the old scar and the new wound1 are sufficient1 you think1 to explain much in her life4 ,at least they explain about the hysteria4 ,in her dream1 a wave of recollection swept over her and1 so to speak1 engulfed her mind4 ,in other words1 reason could no longer dominate the cravings for love so long repressed4 ,the unconscious strain was too great4 ,hence the hysteria--not so much the hysteria and the isolated outburst which ,doyle saw1 as the condition back of it which must have continued for days1 perhaps weeks1 previous to the actual murder of ,wilford4 ,i frowned and objected inwardly4 ,was ,craig1 also1 laying a foundation for the ultimate conviction of ,honora8 ,before ,i could question him there was an interruption at the door and ,i sprang to open it4 ,hello1 ,jameson6 greeted ,doctor ,leslie2 then catching sight of ,kennedy1 he entered and asked1 ,have you discovered anything yet1 ,professor8 ,yes1 replied ,craig1 ,i should say ,i have4 ,leslie was himself quite excited and did not wait for ,craig to go on4 ,so have ,i1 he exclaimed1 searching ,kennedy's face as he spoke4 ,did you find physostigmine in the stomach contents ,i sent you8 ,i did in what ,i retained4 ,kennedy nodded quietly4 ,what does it mean8 queried ,leslie1 puzzled4 ,kennedy shook his head gravely4 ,i can't say--yet1 he replied4 ,it may mean much before we are through1 but for the present ,i think we had better go slow with our deductions4 ,leslie evidently had hoped that ,kennedy's active mind would have already figured out the explanation4 ,but in cases such as this facts are more important than clever reasoning and ,kennedy was not going to commit himself4 ,doyle tells me that he has put in a dictagraph in the ,wilford apartment1 ventured ,leslie1 changing the subject unwillingly4 ,has he learned anything yet8 ,no1 not yet4 ,it's too soon1 ,i imagine4 ,leslie paused and glanced about impatiently4 ,things were evidently not going fast enough to suit him4 ,yet1 without ,kennedy1 he felt himself helpless4 ,however1 there was always one thing about ,leslie which ,i was forced to like4 ,he was no poser4 ,even when ,doyle and the rest did not recognize ,kennedy's genius1 ,leslie quite appreciated it4 ,although he was a remarkably good physician1 he knew that the problems which many cases presented to him were such that only ,kennedy could help him out4 ,you've heard nothing more about the gossip regarding ,mrs4 ,lathrop and ,shattuck8 ,i asked4 ,no1 nothing about that4 ,but there is something else that ,i have found out1 he added1 after a moment--something that leads to ,wilford's office4 ,kennedy was interested in a moment4 ,we had been so occupied with the case that we had not even a chance to go down there yet1 although that would have been one of the first things to do1 ordinarily1 unless1 as in this case1 we were almost certain that the ransacking of ,doyle and ,leslie had destroyed those first clues that come only when one is called immediately on a case4 ,i've been looking about the place1 went on ,leslie1 encouraged by ,kennedy's interest4 ,i knew you'd be busy with other things4 ,well1 ,i've discovered one of the other tenants in the building who did not leave his office on the same floor until just after seven o'clock last night4 ,yes8 inquired ,craig4 ,did he see or hear anything8 ,leslie nodded4 ,early in the evening there must have been a woman who visited ,wilford1 he hastened4 ,who was she8 ,the tenant doesn't know4 ,did he see her8 ,no4 ,he remembers hearing a voice on the other side of the door to the hall4 ,he didn't see any one1 he says1 and it is quite likely4 ,when ,i asked him if he overheard anything1 he replied that he could catch only a word here and there4 ,there was one sentence he caught as he closed his own door4 ,and that was--8 ,rather loudly1 the woman said3 ',give her up1 ,vail4 ,can't you see she really doesn't love you--never did--never could8' ,leslie paused to watch the effect of the sentence on us4 ,i1 too1 studied ,kennedy's face4 ,did she leave soon8 asked ,craig4 ,leslie shook his head4 ,i don't know4 ,the tenant left and that was all ,i heard4 ,well1 ,wilford was not dead then1 we know1 considered ,craig4 ,could she have been there when he died8 ,of course you don't know4 ,it's possible1 replied ,leslie4 ,to myself1 ,i repeated the words3 ,give her up1 ,vail4 ,can't you see she really doesn't love you--never did--never could8 ,a few hours ago ,i should have been forced to conclude that only ,vina might have said it1 knowing as she did the peculiar nature of ,honora and the relations between ,wilford and his wife4 ,but now1 with the hints discovered by ,leslie and amplified by ,miss ,balcom1 ,i could not be so sure4 ,the remark might have come equally well from ,honora herself and have applied to ,vina--for ,honora1 too1 might have known that it was not love for ,wilford that prompted ,vina's interest in her husband1 but the desire to make sure of her divorce for the purpose of being free to capture ,vance ,shattuck4 ,interesting and important as the discovery was1 it did not help us1 except that it added to the slender knowledge we had of what had taken place at the office4 ,a woman had been there4 ,who it was1 whether ,honora or ,vina1 we did not know4 ,nor did we know how long she had stayed1 whether she might merely have dropped in and have gone before the crime was committed4 ,you've told ,doyle8 asked ,kennedy4 ,naturally4 ,i had to tell him4 ,remember1 it was much later that he found that some one else had been at the office1 according to the janitor's story4 ,i do remember4 ,that's just what ,i have been thinking about4 ,i suppose he'll tell it all around--he usually does use such things in his third-degree manner4 ,leslie smiled1 then sobered4 ,quite likely4 ,does it make any difference8 ,not a bit4 ,i'm rather hoping he does tell it around4 ,i've decided in this case to play the game with the cards on the table4 ,then some one is sure to make a false move and expose his hand1 ,i feel sure4 ,quickly ,i canvassed the situation4 ,all might be involved1 in one way or another--either ,vina or ,honora might have been the early visitor2 later it might have been either ,shattuck or even ,lathrop1 or perhaps neither1 who had been there1 as far as the janitor's vague observation was concerned4 ,there was something strange that went on at that office the night of the murder1 ruminated ,kennedy4 ,maybe there is some clue down there1 after all1 that has been overlooked4 ,you've searched1 you say4 ,doyle has searched4 ,the place must have been pretty well gone over4 ,however1 ,i can see nothing left but to search again1 he decided1 quickly4 ,we must go down there4 ,x ,,the ,,ordeal ,,bean ,wilford's office was in an old building of the days when a structure of five or six stories1 with a cast-iron1 ornamented front1 was considered a wonderful engineering achievement4 ,it was down-town1 in the heart of the financial district1 and had been chosen by ,wilford1 without a doubt1 to convey an impression of solidity and conservatism1 a useful camouflage to cover the essential character of his law practice as scandal attorney4 ,we climbed the worn stairs with ,leslie1 and1 as we mounted1 ,i noticed that there was also1 down the hall1 a back stairway1 evidently placed there in case of fire4 ,hence1 it was possible1 ,i reasoned1 for a person to have slipped in or out practically unobserved from the front4 ,we knew now that at least one person1 probably two1 had been there1 though who they were we did not know4 ,nor was there yet any clue1 except that certainly a woman had visited ,wilford1 at least early in the evening4 ,wilford's office was on the third floor1 in the front4 ,we entered and looked about4 ,past the outer railing and outer office was his own sanctum4 ,it was furnished lavishly with divans and settees in mahogany and dark leather1 with elaborate hangings over the windows and on the walls4 ,there were law-books1 but only1 it seemed1 for the purpose of giving a legal flavor to the place4 ,most of the legal library was outside4 ,the office was rather like a den than a lawyer's office4 ,reflecting1 ,i could see the reason4 ,society must be made welcome here1 and at ease4 ,besides1 the conservative surroundings were quite valuable in covering up the profession--,i had almost said1 business--of divorce made easy and pleasant4 ,i recalled ,rascon and the crook detectives who made little concealment of their business--,evidence for divorce furnished4 ,doubtless many of these gentry had found occupation from this source4 ,what stories these walls might have told6 ,they would have made even ,belle ,balcom's ears tingle4 ,at once ,kennedy began his search of the office1 going over everything minutely but quickly1 while we waited1 apart4 ,not even a finger-print has been left unobscured6 he exclaimed1 finally1 almost ready in disgust to give it up4 ,it is shameful--shameful1 he muttered4 ,when will they learn to let things alone until some one comes who knows the scientific importance of little things6 ,if only ,i could have been first on the job4 ,there's the typewriter1 suggested ,leslie1 trying to divert attention and smooth things over4 ,have you the letter8 asked ,craig4 ,leslie drew it eagerly from his pocket and unfolded it4 ,kennedy took it1 spread it out and studied it a moment3 ,,honora3 ,don't think ,i am a coward to do this1 but things cannot go on as they have been going4 ,it is no use4 ,i cannot work it out4 ,this is the only way4 ,so ,i shall drop out4 ,you will find my will in the safe4 ,good-by forever4 ,,vail4 ,then ,craig moved over and sat at the typewriter4 ,quickly he struck several keys1 then made a hasty comparison of the note with what he had written4 ,the 's' and the 'r' are out of alignment1 the 'e' battered--in both1 he concluded1 hurriedly1 as though merely confirming what he was already convinced of4 ,there are enough marks to identify the writing as having been done on this machine1 all right4 ,no1 there's nothing in this note--except what is back of it1 and we do not know that yet4 ,did ,wilford write that letter1 or was it written for him8 ,it could hardly have been done voluntarily4 ,it was in this desk chair that we found him sprawled--so1 illustrated ,doctor ,leslie1 dropping into the chair4 ,then1 straightening up1 he indicated the big flat-topped desk in the middle of the room4 ,the two glasses were on this desk--one of them here1 the other over there4 ,as he pointed the spots out1 one of them near where he was1 the other near the outer edge of the desk1 ,kennedy's eye fell on the desk calendar4 ,i removed the pages ,i told you about1 supplied ,leslie1 noticing the direction of ,craig's glance4 ,it's a loose-leaf affair1 as you see4 ,here they are4 ,leslie drew from his pocket the leaves for the various days1 and we looked at them again1 with their notations--one reading1 ,prepare papers in proposed case of ,lathrop vs4 ,lathrop4 ,others read1 ,vina at four1 and other dates1 with hours attached4 ,there were several of them1 more than would seem to have been necessary were the relation merely that of lawyer and client for so brief a time4 ,there were none for the day of the murder however4 ,kennedy continued the search1 now rummaging the papers1 now directing either ,leslie or myself to bring him objects4 ,he had asked me for a letter-file1 and ,i was turning from a cabinet to hand it to him when my foot kicked some small1 soft object lying along the edge of the rug4 ,the thing1 whatever it was1 flew over and hit the baseboard4 ,mechanically ,i reached down and picked the object up1 holding it in the palm of my hand4 ,it seemed to be a rough-coated1 grayish-brown bean1 of irregular1 kidney shape1 about an inch long and half an inch thick1 with two margins1 one short and concave1 the other long and convex4 ,the surfaces were rounded slightly1 but flattened4 ,the coat of the bean was glossy4 ,kennedy1 with quick eye1 had noted that ,i had picked up something and was over at my side in a moment4 ,what's that8 he asked quickly1 taking the thing from my hand as ,i turned to him4 ,he looked at it critically for a moment4 ,then he pressed the hard outer coat until it parted slightly1 disclosing inside two creamy white cotyledons4 ,he studied them for some time1 then pressed the bean back into shape again as it had been before4 ,i was about to ask what he thought it was1 and where it came from1 when there was a noise in the direction of the door4 ,we turned to see that it was a man in overalls shuffling in1 his cap in his hand4 ,oh1 beggin' your pardon1 ,doctor1 he addressed ,leslie1 ,i heard some one here4 ,i didn't know it was you4 ,it was the night watchman who had been off the job on perhaps the only occasion in years when it would have meant much for him to have been on it1 but was making up for his laxity now by excessive vigilance4 ,pete1 demanded ,leslie1 sharply1 did you see a woman here that night8 ,n-no1 sir--that is1 sir--,i don't know4 ,there was some one here--but ,mr4 ,wilford1 he kept such late hours and irregular that ,i thought nothing of it4 ,i thought it was all right1 sir4 ,later1 when ,i didn't hear any voices1 ,i thought they had gone home4 ,i didn't see the lights burnin'--you wouldn't ha' noticed that1 except from the other side of the street4 ,i s'pose that's why they didn't discover the body till mornin'4 ,but a woman here--no1 sir1 ,i can't say as ,i'd say that1 sir4 ,whatever else there might have been said about ,pete1 it was evident that he was perfectly honest4 ,he even confessed his lack of observation and his inefficiency with utter frankness4 ,there did not seem to be a hope of obtaining anything by questioning ,pete4 ,he had told all he really knew4 ,others might have embellished the story had they been in his place1 and so have led us astray4 ,at least he had the merit of not doing that4 ,so--here you are1 exclaimed a deep voice at the door4 ,it was ,doyle1 flushed and excited4 ,you may go1 ,pete1 nodded ,leslie to the janitor1 who backed out of the room1 still pulling at his cap4 ,alone1 ,doyle turned to us4 ,confound ,shattuck6 he exclaimed4 ,that man is the limit4 ,i'll get him1 if he doesn't look out4 ,he's a game bird--but he flies funny4 ,why1 what has he done now8 asked ,kennedy4 ,done8 fumed ,doyle4 ,done8 ,been threatening1 ,i hear1 to have me 'broke'--that's all4 ,i don't care about that1 not a whoop--even if he had the influence with the administration4 ,what ,i care about is that he is putting every obstacle in the way of my finding out anything from that woman4 ,she's hard enough to manage1 ,heaven knows1 without his butting in4 ,what about that bean ,jameson picked up here8 asked ,leslie1 impatiently1 as ,doyle paused4 ,have you any idea what it may be8 ,a bean8 inquired ,doyle1 looking from one of us to the other and not understanding4 ,a bean8 ,picked up here8 ,why1 what do you mean8 ,i was inclined to be vexed at ,leslie for having mentioned it1 but ,i soon saw that ,kennedy betrayed no traces of annoyance4 ,on the contrary1 he seemed rather eager to answer1 as he drew the thing from his pocket1 where he had placed it when ,pete came in4 ,just something ,jameson happened to find on the very edge of the rug1 quite by accident1 over by the letter-files1 ,craig explained1 with a certain gusto at showing ,doyle a thing that he had overlooked4 ,ever see anything like it8 ,doyle took the bean1 but it was evident that both it and its discovery meant nothing to him4 ,no1 he admitted1 reluctantly4 ,what is it8 ,without a doubt it is one of the famous so-called 'ordeal beans' of ,calabar1 replied ,kennedy1 offhand4 ,calabar8 ,i repeated1 in surprise4 ,why1 that's a place on the west coast of ,africa1 isn't it8 ,what would a ,calabar bean be lying on the floor here for8 ,what do you mean--ordeal bean8 questioned ,doyle1 somewhat incredulously1 while ,leslie maintained a discreet silence4 ,in the ,calabar1 where these things grow1 explained ,kennedy1 not put out for an instant1 as you perhaps know1 they have a strange form of dueling with these seeds4 ,two opponents divide a bean4 ,each eats a half4 ,it is some religious ceremony--voodoo1 or some such thing1 ,i suppose--a superstition4 ,sometimes both die--for the bean contains physostigmine and is the chief source from which this drug is obtained4 ,you mean they eat it--a poison8 ,i asked4 ,certainly4 ,over there1 the natives believe that ,god will decide who is guilty and who is innocent1 and that he will miraculously spare the innocent4 ,i suppose that sometimes one gets a half a bean that doesn't contain so high a percentage of the poison--or else some people are not so susceptible to its toxin1 or something like that4 ,anyhow1 that's one way they use it4 ,why1 ,i exclaimed1 that is primitive justice1 you might say--the duel by poison6 ,exactly1 ,craig nodded4 ,doyle stared1 amazed and puzzled4 ,no worse than some of the things our ancestors did1 not many centuries ago1 reminded ,craig4 ,they used to have all sorts of ordeals1 by fire and water and what not4 ,we haven't progressed so far over the savages1 after all4 ,civilization is only a veneer1 and pretty thin1 sometimes4 ,underneath we're quite like the savage--only we substitute mechanical war for brute strength and high finance for highway robbery4 ,the caveman and the cavewoman are in all of us--only we manage either to control them or conceal them--except when something happens that means calling in either ,doyle or myself4 ,what's this--phy--physos--what you call it8 demanded ,doyle1 forgetting to conceal his ignorance in his curiosity4 ,a drug1 replied ,kennedy4 ,one effect it has is to contract the pupil of the eye4 ,both ,leslie and ,i have discovered considerable traces of it in ,wilford's stomach4 ,in such quantities1 it would be very poisonous4 ,by the way1 this bean would account also for those starch grains ,i found1 ,walter1 added ,kennedy4 ,then you mean you think that ,wilford ate one of these things8 queried ,leslie4 ,that there was a--duel by poison8 demanded ,doyle1 hesitating over the words ,i had used4 ,i know he must have eaten one of those beans1 asserted ,kennedy4 ,what else could it have been8 ,he certainly didn't eat this one1 though4 ,there must have been more4 ,this one must have dropped on the floor in the excitement and have been overlooked4 ,you didn't find any traces of others about1 did you8 he added1 looking from ,doyle to ,leslie4 ,leslie shook his head negatively4 ,doyle's puzzled face was answer enough from him4 ,i considered a moment as an idea struck me1 offering a refuge from an unpleasant implication of ,kennedy's remarks which ,i foresaw and which ,i knew would occur to ,doyle1 if not directly1 at least very soon4 ,shattuck has traveled widely1 ,i remarked1 reflectively4 ,he himself told us1 you recall1 that he had hunted big game in ,africa4 ,perhaps he has been in the ,calabar1 too--at any rate somewhere on that continent where he might have learned of these beans and the use to which the natives put them4 ,kennedy nodded again1 cautiously4 ,a good many such beans are imported for medical purposes to obtain the physostigmine from them1 ,craig remarked1 carefully4 ,it's the source of the drug4 ,don't jump too hastily at your conclusions1 ,walter4 ,remember1 physostigmine is a drug that is known and used by oculists1 too1 for its effect on the pupil of the eye1 the opposite of belladonna4 ,i could have sworn at ,kennedy for that4 ,it was just the idea that ,i had wanted to keep away from ,doyle4 ,i had known that he would pounce on it like a hawk4 ,now ,i was sure that he would use it against ,honora4 ,oh--oculists use it1 do they8 repeated ,doyle1 running true to form4 ,ah--,i see4 ,he looked about1 from one to the other of us1 knowingly4 ,no one said anything as he continued to gaze with superior slyness at us1 regarding us as poor simpletons who were unable to see through a millstone with a hole in it4 ,i see--,i see1 he added4 ,honora--,chappelle4 ,that was her name before she was married4 ,her father was a ,frenchman1 ,honore ,chappelle--an oculist--well known in the city before he died4 ,oh1 that's very important1 then1 that about this bean and the physostigmine1 or whatever you call it4 ,and1 ,leslie1 you say you've discovered that some one--a woman--was here early in the evening4 ,can't we put two and two together8 ,she's lying when she says she wasn't out of that house1 she is4 ,so is that ,celeste1 the hussy4 ,depend on it1 she was here4 ,i'm on the right track1 all right1 ,doyle concluded with a cocksure shake of the head that was more irritating than any amount of ignorance on his part would have been4 ,i did not reply4 ,i understood the purport of the broad insinuation that ,doyle was making4 ,also1 ,i saw the real reason of ,kennedy's remark to me1 cautioning me to make haste slowly in deducing anything from the1 as yet1 slender facts of the case4 ,i thought a moment4 ,far from eliminating anybody1 the discovery of the ,calabar bean left us scarcely a bit ahead of where we had been before4 ,with a keen repulsion against the very idea and its implications as seen by the astute ,doyle1 ,i still was forced to admit that ,honora ,wilford's father had been an oculist and that it was perfectly true that she had every opportunity to have learned of the ordeal bean and its drug4 ,yet ,i kept asking myself what1 after all1 that might mean4 ,purposely ,kennedy reverted to the ,calabar bean and the remarks of ,doyle that had started the conversation4 ,if ,shattuck gets too brash1 hinted ,kennedy1 spring this information on him4 ,perhaps it might interest him4 ,as he said it1 ,i remembered what ,craig had said in the laboratory only a short time before--that he was going to tell part of what he had found1 as he went along1 in the hope that the actions of each suspect who heard it might perhaps betray some thing4 ,there was some crumb of comfort in that1 ,i felt1 as far as ,honora herself was concerned4 ,yet ,i felt uncomfortable and misgiving4 ,we parted from ,leslie and ,doyle1 and as we went up-town again ,i could not help remarking that somehow the apparent effort of ,shattuck to hamper us was suspicious4 ,kennedy said very little1 but when we got off at the station on the ,subway just before our own1 ,i saw that he was not yet through4 ,it did not take long to elicit from him the information that1 while he felt he could trust ,doyle to convey the information about the discovery and the drug to both ,shattuck and ,honora before long1 the case was different as far as ,vina and ,doctor ,lathrop were concerned4 ,as we entered ,doctor ,lathrop's office1 we found that not only was he there1 but that his wife was there also4 ,however1 it was quite evident that they had been having words1 and all was not as serene between them as they would have us wish1 by the forced looks on their faces4 ,in short1 they had been quarreling4 ,i could have guessed what it was about1 but ,kennedy affected not to notice that anything was wrong and ,i fancied that ,vina1 at least1 wore a look of relief as she saw that he was not paying any attention to it4 ,briefly1 ,kennedy outlined what we had found--the physostigmine in the stomach1 the poison1 the bean itself1 which he took particular pains to describe along with the circumstances under which it had been found4 ,did you ever have any of these ordeal beans8 asked ,kennedy1 displaying the one we had found4 ,i have had them1 admitted ,lathrop4 ,i thought ,i caught a covert look at his wife1 as if to see how she was taking the discovery4 ,as for ,vina1 ,i knew that she was far too clever to betray anything1 especially before us4 ,they're comparatively easy to obtain in ,new ,york1 went on ,lathrop1 with greater ease4 ,drug importers get them in quantities to derive the drug from them4 ,however1 now ,i employ the drug itself1 the few times ,i have any occasion to use it4 ,i suppose ,i've got some in my medicine-chest4 ,as we talked1 ,i saw that ,vina was really listening1 keen and silent4 ,if actions for which we had no immediate explanation had bearing on the question of guilt1 ,i felt that her very manner was incriminatory in itself4 ,why should she try to conceal under a cloak of indifference her real interest in the thing8 ,and yet1 even with ,vina1 ,i was loath to jump at a conclusion4 ,somehow or other her preoccupied manner and the stress of her suppressed attention aroused my suspicions most strongly against her1 after what other things ,i knew of her private affairs4 ,as we left them and hurried toward the laboratory1 ,i found myself wondering whether she might not have been the visitor to ,wilford whom the tenant had overheard talking in ,wilford's office4 ,as for the why of such a visit1 ,i was forced to admit ,i had no explanation4 ,i reacted against the deduction that perhaps ,honora had known of the properties of the ,calabar bean and had been able to obtain some of them4 ,yet it was clearly that that was in ,kennedy's mind as we approached his workshop4 ,we had scarcely entered the hall when ,i saw that there was some one waiting for us near the door4 ,it was ,brooks1 of ,the ,star4 ,brooks wore a very important air of secrecy1 as though he had been doing a bit of gumshoeing and was proud of it4 ,something about ,rascon8 ,i asked1 jumping to the conclusion1 after ,i had introduced ,brooks to ,craig4 ,yes1 he replied1 eagerly1 ,i've got a clue4 ,a clue8 ,why1 we've got ,rascon--at least ,doyle can get him whenever we want him4 ,what do you mean8 ,i asked4 ,how about those reports8 answered ,brooks1 pointedly4 ,you know he did a good deal of work for ,wilford and wrote a good many of them4 ,the reports are gone--,doyle told me4 ,where are they8 asked ,kennedy1 quickly appreciating the possible importance of the matter4 ,is that what you've found out8 ,brooks looked knowing4 ,ah--that's just it4 ,you see1 ,i decided to trail the trailers1 so to speak4 ,there's one very trusted operative of ,rascon's--he calls him ,number ,six--that's his denomination1 ,i believe1 in the ,rascon records4 ,well1 that fellow has double-crossed him4 ,he has stolen the reports1 ,i hear4 ,or perhaps it's part of ,rascon's plan to cover himself4 ,i don't know4 ,at any rate1 ,i've traced ,number ,six to a river-front saloon--you may know of the place1 a tough joint called ',the ,ship1' on ,water ,street4 ,without a doubt there's something there4 ,brooks was speaking earnestly and ,i looked questioningly at ,kennedy4 ,i believe it's worth following up1 decided ,craig1 not even stopping to unlock the laboratory door1 as we turned away with ,brooks4 ,if we had those records it might point up the case very closely4 ,,xi ,,the ,,rascon ,,reports ,we found ,the ,ship ,caf1 which ,brooks had already investigated1 on a river-front street in the outskirts of the ,greenwich ,village section of the city4 ,the ,ship was a disreputable-looking frame building1 a tavern of several generations ago1 once historically famous1 but now1 like a decayed man about town1 relegated to the company of those whom formerly he would have scorned4 ,not many months ago it had been a saloon4 ,now a big sign declared that only soft drinks were sold in it4 ,even that change did not seem to have done much for the respectability of the place4 ,the neighborhood was still quite as tough and squalid and ,the ,ship1 itself1 with a coat of paint1 had not become even a whited sepulcher4 ,kennedy1 ,brooks1 and myself entered and passed into a typical1 low-ceilinged back room of the old days4 ,there at a number of greasy1 dirty round tables sat a miscellaneous collection of river-rats1 some talking and smoking ill-favored pipes1 others reading newspapers4 ,i felt sure that they were drinking something other than soft drinks1 and wondered whence the stuff had come4 ,had it been smuggled in on vessels from the near-by wharves8 ,we sat down and for some moments ,brooks and ,i did most of the talking1 being careful to cover ourselves and pose neither as detectives nor even as newspaper men1 lest the slightest slip might excite suspicion among the evil-looking customers of the den4 ,we had been sitting thus for some time1 ,kennedy saying very little1 when ,brooks leaned over toward me and whispered1 in reality to ,kennedy3 ,the fellow ,i discovered--the one they call ,number ,six--has a room up-stairs4 ,if we could only register here we might get a room--and a chance to search the other rooms4 ,kennedy nodded non-committally1 but made no effort to put the suggestion into execution1 and ,i saw that he was merely waiting for something to turn up4 ,for almost an hour we remained talking at the table1 endeavoring to ingratiate ourselves with the waiter of the place1 a rather burly fellow1 who seemed to regard us with suspicion as strangers4 ,yet1 as long as we did nothing or asked nothing indiscreet our burly waiter seemed unable to do anything else than tolerate us4 ,i was becoming impatient1 when a furtive-looking individual entered from what had formerly been the bar4 ,brooks winked sidewise at us and ,i gathered that the new-comer was the redoubtable ,number #f1 the operative of the ,rascon ,agency whom ,brooks had located4 ,he cast his furtive eyes around and his glance caught ,brooks1 who nodded1 beckoning him over to the table4 ,the former operative sidled over and sat down1 eying us suspiciously1 in spite of ,brooks's effort to handle him with tact4 ,we fell into conversation1 beginning on the weather and progressing to the usual topic of the evil times into which prohibition was throwing us4 ,gradually ,brooks led around to more intimate subjects and finally the name of ,rascon was mentioned4 ,at once the former operative flew into a towering rage4 ,say1 he ejaculated1 if ,i should tell you of all the crooked deals that fellow was in-- ,he checked himself in spite of his anger1 and at once a look of suspicion crossed his face as he glanced doubtfully at us4 ,at least ,i felt there could be no question that the operative had really double-crossed ,rascon4 ,as to whether we might profit by it or not1 that was another matter4 ,fair enough1 interposed ,kennedy1 trying to reassure the fellow4 ,now we're not friends of his exactly4 ,to come right down to brass tacks1 he added1 lowering his voice1 this gentleman here tells me that you have something to sell4 ,the question is--what do you want and how are you going to deliver the goods--,i mean in the way that's safest for you1 of course4 ,kennedy was leaning over frankly toward the fellow4 ,the operative's eyes narrowed and a look of low cunning came over his face4 ,he looked about at the other tables1 as though not quite sure of even those about him4 ,how do ,i know you come from her8 he shot out4 ,maybe you're bulls4 ,kennedy quickly reassured him4 ,you can arrange the matter any way that's safest to you1 he repeated4 ,i had been so intent on our own little affair that ,i had not noticed that a couple of new-comers had entered from the side door and were at a table not far from us4 ,it had not escaped the shifty eyes of our customer4 ,he gave a perceptible start and in an instant was as dumb as an oyster4 ,kennedy's cold steel eye seemed to bore right into the gaze of our man now as he leaned forward and whispered to him something ,i did not hear until1 as ,craig drew back1 ,i could catch the last of it--,and as sure as the ,lord made little apples1 ,i'll shoot if you don't take me up to where you've got the goods4 ,if you do--you get the money4 ,i glanced about hastily and saw that ,kennedy's hand was hidden in his pocket1 which bulged as if something metallic were held there under cover4 ,the fellow glanced sullenly from us to the new arrivals1 as though in a quandary4 ,you got the money with you8 he asked1 rather shakily4 ,yes1 ,kennedy cut short4 ',cause ,i'll have to beat it the back way--and we got to work fast1 he explained1 his eyes roving from the burly bartender1 who had just gone out to the couple at the other table1 apparently oblivious to us4 ,the faster the better4 ,you can make your get-away with the coin as soon as those reports are in my hands4 ,all right1 he agreed1 nervously1 then added to me1 and if you fellows see any one try to follow us--you stop 'em4 ,see8 ,i nodded for both myself and ,brooks4 ,come on1 indicated the former crook detective to ,kennedy4 ,quick6 ,kennedy rose and followed the fellow to a door to a hallway that looked as if it led up-stairs4 ,no sooner had the two risen than our strangers at the other table were alert4 ,i swung around in my chair suddenly toward them1 and as ,i did so my hand went to my hip pocket1 as though in search of a gun4 ,for just an instant they paused in their attention to ,kennedy4 ,out of the tail of my eye ,i caught sight of ,kennedy and the operative at the hall door4 ,framed in the doorway now stood our burly waiter1 snarling some remark4 ,what do youse want8 growled the waiter4 ,before there was a change for a reply a shot rang out from the other side of the room and the place was instantly in ,cimmerian darkness as the bullet smashed the one light in the room4 ,there was a rush and a scuffle4 ,i flung one fellow off1 only to be tackled in the blackness by some one else4 ,swiftly thoughts crowded through my mind as the place was in an uproar4 ,had we been followed here8 ,was it a trap8 ,was ,rascon ready to risk anything rather than to have those reports pass into unfriendly hands8 ,the moment the light winked out1 ,kennedy had swung on the burly waiter and had sprung back toward us as we fought our way toward where we had last seen him4 ,i did not know whether my second assailant was one of the two strangers at the other table or not4 ,over and over we rolled1 knocking down tables and chairs1 the air torrid with oaths from all sides4 ,what had become of ,kennedy and ,brooks ,i didn't know4 ,i am sure that ,i would have mastered the situation in my own private little fight if1 at that moment1 there had not been the crash of glass from another door1 followed by a shrill cry4 ,the bulls6 ,i heard some harsh voice growl4 ,it seemed as if new men were coming from all directions4 ,my man squirmed out from my grasp and before ,i knew it1 in the darkness1 ,i found myself in the anomalous position of being held firmly by the collar by a policeman1 while all about ,i could hear the impact of billies on crass skulls1 resounding in a manner that was awe-inspiring4 ,my own captor needed only a word to bring his own club down on my head1 and1 needless to say1 ,i was not going to say that word4 ,an instant later some one found a wall light and turned it on4 ,in the half-light1 ,i could hear a laugh behind me4 ,i turned4 ,it was ,doyle6 ,how did you come here8 ,i gasped1 breathlessly1 as ,doyle released my collar and ,i stretched my neck to remove the kinks1 in so doing catching sight of ,kennedy standing over the unconscious form of the waiter in the doorway as he held the redoubtable ,no4 #f by the collar4 ,kennedy thought it was a trap--tipped me off1 laughed ,doyle1 swinging his club as he shouted orders to his men to dive into command of each door or window exit4 ,did you locate ,rascon8 panted ,kennedy1 twisting just a bit tighter the collar of the operative whom he was holding4 ,sure1 returned ,doyle1 already beginning to line up his prisoners against a blank wall on one side4 ,he'll be here in a minute4 ,but don't wait for him1 if that's your man4 ,search the place--and1 see here1 you1 he menaced the former operative1 no monkey-shines4 ,you give ,mr4 ,kennedy them papers--or-- ,doyle trailed off in one of his picturesque oaths4 ,while ,doyle's men completed the line-up against the wall1 ,kennedy led the now quaking ,no4 #f into the hall1 followed by ,doyle1 ,brooks1 and myself4 ,we mounted the stairs1 looking into every closet and cranny4 ,hundreds of cases of wet goods must have been concealed in the place1 which later we discovered was more than a speak-easy1 for it proved to be a veritable moonshine still almost in the heart of the city4 ,our search was not long4 ,the stress of threat and circumstance broke down the former crook detective1 who now was as keen to clear himself1 gratis1 and hang something on ,rascon1 as before he had been to collect his graft and get away with it4 ,directed by him1 in a hall bedroom1 under the worn carpet1 we loosened a board of the floor and took from the lath and plaster of the ceiling below a flat packet done up in oiled silk4 ,at last we had the purloined ,rascon letters4 ,doyle's eyes widened at the sight of what ,craig had uncovered4 ,here was a whole set of reports such as that which we had already obtained1 only of far greater value4 ,kennedy was immersed in reading them already4 ,what's in them8 asked ,doyle1 reaching eagerly for the sheaf of precious tissue-paper carbon copies4 ,kennedy did not stop reading1 but merely motioned to be let alone1 as1 quickly1 he ran his eye over one after another4 ,honora had evidently been trailed all over the city1 he commented1 as he read4 ,it was a few moments later that ,kennedy's eyes narrowed as he reached another of the reports4 ,here's one that is very interesting1 he muttered1 half to himself4 ,we crowded around and read the report that was rather lengthy1 while ,kennedy turned the pages slowly4 ,i shall not attempt to quote it1 but rather give the gist of it4 ,starts out as though it were a report on ,vina and ,shattuck1 commented ,kennedy1 but as you read on1 it seems more as though it were a report on ,honora4 ,it seemed that the events had happened1 or were alleged to have happened1 in a resort in ,greenwich ,village1 known as the ,orange and ,blue ,tea-room4 ,as we read the name1 ,brooks nodded wisely4 ,i know the place1 he remarked1 run by a young lady of very advanced ideas--,zona ,dare4 ,however1 none of us paid much attention to the interruption at the time1 but kept on reading4 ,for1 it seemed that one night1 scarcely a fortnight before1 ,vina ,lathrop had arrived at the ,orange and ,blue1 according to ,rascon's operative1 when shortly afterward ,shattuck had dropped in1 saw her1 and wandered over to her table4 ,later ,honora ,wilford came in1 observed them1 but did not sit with them4 ,instead1 she remained alone at another table watching the couple very jealously4 ,there's a queer break in the report at this point1 remarked ,kennedy1 turning the page4 ,nothing further is said about this meeting1 but see how it resumes4 ,apparently1 ,honora1 as she watched1 had become more and more nervous1 for ,rascon went on to detail a stormy meeting between the two women1 in which ,honora faced ,vina with biting sarcasm and at which ,vina replied in a manner usually described as catty4 ,shattuck had tried to act as peacemaker and to smooth things over4 ,but evidently explanations were useless and only made matters worse4 ,it seemed that whatever it was he said pleased neither woman1 and finally1 after ,honora1 with a parting shot at ,vina1 had swept out of the tea-room1 ,shattuck very apologetically placed ,vina in a cab1 then took another himself1 and all three had departed in separate ways4 ,who is this ,zona ,dare1 did you say8 asked ,kennedy of ,brooks1 when we had all finished reading4 ,one of the well-known ,villagers1 returned ,brooks4 ,i believe she has some reputation as an interpreter of ,freud--you know1 the dream doctor8 ,they put on a one-act play down there last winter that she wrote4 ,indeed8 returned ,kennedy1 interested1 but non-committal4 ,i could not help but think that we had struck pay dirt in this report1 knowing1 as ,i did1 ,washington ,square and its fondness for whatever is new1 like ,freud4 ,had ,vina and ,shattuck1 as well1 been dabbling in the new dream philosophy8 ,i felt sure that ,honora knew next to nothing about it4 ,at least1 so far1 her actions had betrayed little knowledge and less suspicion4 ,or1 it suddenly occurred to me1 was ,honora deeper than ,i suspected1 and was her seeming ignorance only a pose8 ,did she know that ,kennedy knew1 know that to ,doyle and the rest ,freud was not even a name1 and that she must play a clever game to match wits with ,kennedy in this matter8 ,above all1 was the report true8 ,if so1 judged by ,village standards1 was it a hint1 a strange example of the so-called new morality8 ,on the one side was ,shattuck1 seeking to break up the relations between ,honora and her husband4 ,at the same time was he playing a game with ,vina ,lathrop8 ,as for ,vina1 her own relations with her husband were strained4 ,had she known of ,shattuck's regard for ,honora and had that aroused in her a desire to break it up1 for her own advantage8 ,to cap it all1 what of ,honora8 ,was this the jealous soul mate pursuing her affinity and finding him false8 ,what1 indeed1 was the viewpoint--according to the new morality8 ,i could not but reflect on what a tangle things had been brought into--once the old morality was thrown overboard and the old immorality renamed4 ,suddenly there flashed over my mind the recollection of some of the conversation that had been overheard in ,wilford's office with the unknown woman visitor4 ,give her up1 ,vail4 ,can't you see she really doesn't love you--never did--never could8 ,had it been said by ,vina of ,honora--or by ,honora of ,vina8 ,either of them1 according to her own philosophy of life1 might have said it of the other4 ,in the new morality there was surely scope for the play of mysterious excuses for passions4 ,it's easy to see1 ,i remarked1 that ,wilford1 through these ,rascon reports and in other ways1 had been laying a foundation not only for ,vina's divorce1 but his own4 ,kennedy nodded sententiously4 ,but why did he have ,vina shadowed here to the tea-room--that is1 if that is the case8 ,had he some inkling that ,vina was merely using him8 ,and what's the reason for that break in the report8 ,i believe there's something more in that three-cornered meeting than appears4 ,these reports1 ,i reflected1 as now we awaited the arrival of ,rascon himself1 were giving quite another side to the characters of the people concerned in the case from that which had been exhibited hitherto4 ,were we getting down at last under the surface of their private life and finding it of the same sort as that of the smart set and the fringe that apes the smart set8 ,there was a commotion in the hallway and a moment later ,rascon himself entered1 accompanied1 in answer to the summons of ,kennedy through ,doyle1 by one of ,doyle's own men4 ,at once ,doyle took the affair in hand1 and ,kennedy did not interfere1 deeming it best1 apparently1 to let ,rascon gain the impression that the whole matter had originated with ,doyle4 ,question after question ,doyle flung at ,rascon without getting an answer that was truly enlightening4 ,finally1 exasperated1 as ,doyle always became when his rasping third degree did not produce results1 ,doyle picked up the tissue-paper1 typewritten reports and shook them in ,rascon's face4 ,then you swear that these reports are true8 ,doyle demanded4 ,don't stop4 ,the devil with how this fellow ,number ,six got away with them and we learned they were here4 ,are they true8 ,rascon was sullenly silent4 ,are they true8 ,come now1 you'll have to answer that sometime1 ,rascon4 ,yes1 replied the crook detective1 defiantly4 ,doyle turned to us with an air of triumph1 as though he had gained a great admission1 though ,i could not see1 for the life of me1 why he should be so elated at having merely begun4 ,i've just read this one1 remarked ,kennedy1 quietly1 picking up the report we had all glanced through4 ,it's true--you say--but it isn't the whole truth1 ,rascon4 ,rascon maintained his sullen silence1 but there was a furtive cast in his glance that had not been present in the defiance of ,doyle4 ,evidently in his mind was running the thought1 ,just what is it that this man1 ,kennedy1 may know1 and how am ,i going to keep from being too clever and tripping myself up8 ,i knew it to be a situation in which ,kennedy frankly reveled1 this interplay of wits4 ,there's a break here1 prompted ,kennedy1 with a positiveness that was palpably disconcerting to ,rascon4 ,kennedy fixed his gaze on ,rascon1 who fidgeted and finally weakened4 ,well1 you see1 he admitted1 ,mr4 ,wilford came in at that point--said to watch them--and left4 ,i didn't think that it was necessary to put that in the report--to him4 ,did ,mrs4 ,wilford see him there8 demanded ,kennedy1 quickly4 ,no--,i don't think so4 ,well--which were you following8 cut in ,doyle1 to the vexation of ,kennedy1 who1 until then1 had had things going pretty much his own way4 ,was it ,mrs4 ,lathrop or ,shattuck--or--was it ,mrs4 ,wilford herself8 ,doyle modulated his voice in his craftiest manner1 the manner which ,i hated1 for it was so evident that he tended toward hanging the crime ultimately on ,honora4 ,why1 it was ,mr4 ,shattuck ,i was following1 snapped ,rascon1 ,mr4 ,shattuck and ,mr4 ,wilford's wife4 ,the answer was indeed an answer4 ,i felt that ,doyle had furnished ,rascon with what was1 to the crook detective1 a neat way to let himself out of a tight position1 and ,i could see that it had given ,rascon a relief from ,kennedy's more subtle grilling4 ,we'll take that matter up later1 was all ,kennedy ventured1 hiding his chagrin at the interruption of ,doyle4 ,on his part1 ,doyle seemed to insist on making it evident that he had scored4 ,rascon1 he added1 extending his fist menacingly at the detective1 who by this time seemed to have recovered some of his lost equilibrium as he realized the extent of our find1 due to the unexpected treachery of his operative--,rascon1 did you offer to sell these reports to ,mrs4 ,wilford8 ,i know about that ,beach ,house report4 ,is that why you left ,mr4 ,wilford's name out8 ,come--you might as well admit it4 ,no--,i didn't try to sell them to ,mrs4 ,wilford1 defied ,rascon1 with assurance4 ,why should ,i8 ,mr4 ,wilford paid me a bonus for that particular report--not to me1 of course1 but to the operative ,i had assigned to the case4 ,kennedy1 by this time1 had given up the further quizzing of ,rascon at this time as hopeless1 and was preparing to leave4 ,as for myself1 ,i cannot say that ,i was entirely uninfluenced by ,doyle's apparent estimate of ,honora ,wilford1 in the light of ,rascon's report and his ready explanation4 ,though ,i would not have admitted it to any one else1 ,i began to wonder whether1 if the reports were true and ,rascon's explanation held1 ,i had been correct in my estimate of ,honora4 ,a word from ,kennedy would have set me right4 ,why had he not spoken it8 ,moreover1 had my own interpretation of his ,freudian analysis of her been correct8 ,was she the marble woman he had made me think her8 ,the more ,i thought of it1 the more ,i felt that the new morality down-town was pretty much the same as the old immorality up-town4 ,i began to wonder whether ,honora1 in her doubt of the lack of feeling for ,wilford1 had succeeded in keeping herself from being smirched by either standard4 ,i was frankly at sea4 ,we left alone1 leaving ,doyle to handle the product of his raid1 including the now intractable ,rascon4 ,craig thanked ,brooks for his help and ,brooks had scarcely left us4 ,i was about to ask ,kennedy his frank opinion of the case for ,honora1 when he himself forestalled me briskly4 ,walter1 ,i've an angle of this thing ,i want to go into immediately4 ,besides1 ,i have some work ,i must get through at the laboratory4 ,suppose that1 in the mean time1 you trace down what truth there may be in that tea-room incident4 ,i think you and your friend1 ,belle ,balcom1 could do that4 ,,xii ,,the ,,new ,,morality ,i was rather glad of the commission ,kennedy had given me4 ,belle ,balcom had a keen and sprightly mind4 ,she was the typical newspaper woman1 it is true1 who often would sacrifice accuracy to cleverness4 ,yet there was not much to condemn her in that1 for she was so undeniably clever4 ,contact with her was stimulating4 ,besides1 it was just on such a quest as this that a girl of her type was invaluable4 ,accordingly1 ,i set out immediately down-town for ,the ,star4 ,fortunately1 ,i found ,belle finishing her stint of society gossip for the day4 ,i made a quick explanation of what ,kennedy wanted and was pleased to see that she was interested4 ,i think it's a good idea to visit the tea-room1 ,i explained1 then added1 doubtfully1 but how are you going to find out whether our people are remembered there--if they don't happen to be remembered by name8 ,nothing simpler1 ,belle replied4 ,some one there will surely remember faces4 ,we'll settle that in the art department4 ,thus1 armed with photographs of ,shattuck1 ,vina1 ,honora1 and ,wilford which ,the ,star already possessed in its files1 ,belle and ,i set out on our quest4 ,the ,orange and ,blue ,tea-room was not easy to find by one unfamiliar with the ,village and its queer twists of streets4 ,but ,belle knew it well and ,i had some slight recollection of it4 ,it was originally a low-ceilinged basement in an old house not far from ,washington ,square4 ,the upper floors were now studios4 ,in the former basement1 almost a cellar1 were three rows of tables extending the length of the place and overrunning out into the little back yard where one dined in summer al fresco4 ,at the far end1 on one side1 was a little raised platform1 and on it was a piano strummed by a blind player4 ,opposite was the entrance to the kitchen1 which was subterranean4 ,belle and ,i entered1 and immediately the highbrow hold-up began1 just as up-town1 with a coat-and-hat check-boy4 ,we made our way to one of the tables along the wall and seated ourselves4 ,everywhere orange and blue decorations1 true to the name1 smote the eye1 on walls1 on ceiling1 on chintzes1 on the floor1 on everything1 it seemed1 but the table-cloths and the silverware4 ,you know1 orange stands for temperament1 chatted ,belle1 as she saw me marveling at the color riot4 ,new art1 ,i guess4 ,insanity art1 ,i replied1 with a smile4 ,don't mistake me1 ,i enjoy it1 though4 ,it's atmosphere--especially when that kitchen door is open4 ,belle looked about1 as a woman will1 at once attentive to our conversation1 taking in whatever was happening within the range of two ordinary men's vision1 now and then nodding to some acquaintance1 sweeping a glance at the menu and tucking in a stray wisp of black hair1 all at once and each without in the least interfering with the other4 ,i suppose the ',villagers' are here in force1 ,i suggested1 noting as best ,i could all her simultaneous actions and probably missing the other half which ,i have not recorded4 ,belle smiled4 ,villagers don't come here much4 ,the place is too well known4 ,besides1 there are not so many ',villagers' as you would think4 ,no doubt most of them are up-town4 ,no1 most of these people are skirmishers from the highbrow and curious up-town and out-of-town4 ,you see1 there's a sort of reciprocity about it4 ,however that might have been1 there was enough that was picturesque and one felt sure that one was really in an environment of the bobbed hair and maiden names for wives--that is1 assuming that the words maiden and wives were still in the vocabulary4 ,all parlor socialists8 ,i inquired1 looking about4 ,have your little joke1 frowned ,belle4 ,we all have to1 ,i suppose4 ,but really1 down here1 after all1 there are people who think1 who do things4 ,i had been waiting for that expression1 do things4 ,they all do things down in ,greenwich ,village1 even if it is only to compose music for the zither or publish one's own amateur magazine on butcher paper from hand-set type4 ,evidently ,belle took the ,village more or less seriously1 after all4 ,besides1 she faltered1 there are no parlor socialists1 any more1 anyhow4 ,that belongs to the old muck-raking magazine days4 ,i see--limousine liberals now--or boudoir ,bolsheviki4 ,maybe you'd better eat1 suggested ,belle1 sarcastically4 ,it's a tea-room1 ,i parried1 glancing down at the menu4 ,i suppose it's orange pekoe--although they don't seem to be drinking it4 ,perhaps they're all smoking it4 ,now that we're all supposed to be so good1 ,i hear that tobacco will be replaced by dried powdered tea leaves and coffee grounds4 ,they say a caffein jag or a thein jag has merits4 ,passing by the paraldehyde cocktail1 what's good8 ,belle's good humor was restored1 and with her help ,i managed to order everything from soup to nuts--and ,i am sure that there were a good many fugitives from the squirrels in the room1 whether from up or down town4 ,i was really enjoying myself1 so much so that for the moment ,i almost forgot the purpose of our visit1 when it was recalled to me by ,belle1 who spoke in ,french to the waiter1 rather gross and greasy but answering to the compensating name of ,hyacinthe4 ,o est ,ma'm'selle ,zona8 she asked4 ,the waiter actually understood1 and1 though it would have been so much easier in ,english1 ,belle conveyed the idea that she would like to talk to ,miss ,dare and the waiter agreed to get her1 though ,i felt he restrained himself with difficulty from replying in good ,manhattanite1 ,sure1 miss1 ,i'll dig her up--meaning from the olfactory ,hades beneath us4 ,zona ,dare proved to be a slender youngish lady1 with the conventional shock of dark bobbed hair--with a dilettante exterior but a very practical secret self1 ,i am sure4 ,even a mere introduction to her told me she was a member of that curious third sex that evolution is giving us4 ,i can't exactly describe it4 ,it is not she or he exactly1 neither he-woman nor she-man4 ,certainly it is not neuter4 ,maybe when nature1 or whatever it is that is operating1 gets through we may be able to classify it4 ,belle knew her1 of course4 ,belle knew everybody4 ,in fact she knew her so well that ,zona1 on urging1 consented to sit down with us awhile and actually ordered tea--in a pot1 too1 though whether ,russian1 ,english or ,scotch or ,rye ,i am not sure4 ,at any rate1 it seemed to promote conversation and confidence and ,i covered my raillery with protective coloring4 ,what ,i enjoyed was the utter freedom of the conversation4 ,we had soon progressed to bolshevism and the government ownership and operation of women4 ,finally the conversation put into the ultimate port of the new morality4 ,one must live one's life1 seemed to be the burden of the philosophy1 and ,i did not quarrel with the #aiai model of hedonism1 for by this time ,i began to see a ray of hope that finally ,i might learn something about those whom ,kennedy and ,i had been studying4 ,i recalled ,vina's remark to us over her contemplated divorce1 ,i believe every woman should live her own life as she sees fit4 ,doubtless she had absorbed it here4 ,it was evident1 however1 that there could only be so many triangles a week--and besides1 the eternal triangle was in itself condemned by its mere ancient origin4 ,what next8 ,i guessed right--bolshevism1 of course4 ,i found ,i had dropped right into the intelligenzia--the very sovietment of society1 where ,the ,nation and ,the ,new ,republic were considered hide-bound conservatives4 ,i did not quarrel even at the addition of red to the orange-and-blue color scheme1 though ,i adopted the attitude of one mildly seeking the truth4 ,perhaps ,freud can explain1 ,i suggested1 after one passage at arms with ,zona1 ably seconded by ,belle1 why it is that a prosperous aristocratic feminist should enjoy contemplating casting her rope of pearls before the proletariat4 ,what do these comfortable nibblers at anarchy expect to get out of it8 ,there was an answer4 ,i have forgotten it1 but it was clever and convincing4 ,it always is1 just as glib sophistry and specious phrases are4 ,the gist was that all psychology1 science1 the history of the human race1 had been superseded by some quite indefinite idea originated in a land with problems about as much related to us as the dredging of ,martian canals would relate to ,suez and ,panama4 ,however1 the purpose was accomplished1 and ,belle1 with her human point of view1 which one gets from seeing this corrupt old world from a newspaper office1 saw it4 ,gradually1 the conversation had drifted about to ,freud4 ,i was glad that ,i had learned so much about him from ,kennedy1 for ,i was surprised at the knowledge that ,zona really had of him4 ,was it superficial--as so much of that little world into which ,kennedy had plunged me8 ,i am not sure4 ,at least1 ,zona posed as a ,freudian interpreter4 ,i was sorry ,kennedy was not present1 for ,i was inclined to accept her as such4 ,the fact was that it set me thinking that perhaps she had educated in the theory many to whom a little knowledge is dynamite4 ,belle's keen mind seemed to read my thoughts1 even to leap ahead of me4 ,she reached into her bag and drew forth some photographs4 ,oh1 ,zona1 by the way1 she rattled on1 that reminds me4 ,did you ever see this man here--or this woman8 ,zona took the photographs of ,shattuck and ,vina1 and with just a glance answered1 ,indeed ,i have6 ,do you recall a night when there was a scene here--another woman8 went on ,belle1 producing the photograph of ,honora4 ,yes--,i remember her4 ,i know them all4 ,they're in this case that's in the papers now4 ,the lawyer who was killed was that woman's husband1 she added1 pointing to ,honora4 ,why8 ,are you writing them into your column8 ,yes1 confessed ,belle4 ,that is1 if ,i can get a good enough story out of the incident here4 ,at once ,zona's keen1 practical mind leaped to the bait of publicity held out by ,belle4 ,what could be better advertising than for the celebrated case in the news to be connected with the tea-room8 ,it would crowd the place4 ,what is it you want to know8 ,just what happened4 ,i didn't see it all4 ,as nearly as ,i can recall that man--,mr4 ,shattuck1 his name is--was at a table with ,mrs4 ,lathrop when ,mrs4 ,wilford approached4 ,you see1 ,i knew them all slightly4 ,i know so many people who come here from up-town4 ,it flatters them--and ,i have a good memory for names4 ,i had seen ,mrs4 ,wilford here several times before with ,mr4 ,shattuck--and once ,i think with ,mr4 ,wilford--,i'm not sure4 ,anyhow1 ,i knew her--,i think ,i sold her a box for our ,freud play last year--,i'm not sure4 ,i'd have to look that up4 ,well1 there was quite a scene when ,mrs4 ,wilford stopped and faced ,mrs4 ,lathrop at her table4 ,but here's the strange part of it4 ,i don't know whether you know it or not4 ,but just before that1 while ,mrs4 ,wilford was sitting at the table just back of us--the two were down there near the piano--,mr4 ,wilford himself came in4 ,he was about to give his hat and stick to the check-boy when he caught sight of the back of his wife's head4 ,she was alone--right there--then4 ,he spoke a few words to a man near the street door4 ,i don't know him4 ,he never came here before and ,i haven't seen him since4 ,but1 at any rate1 ,mr4 ,wilford spoke to him1 then turned and left in a great hurry4 ,i wasn't here through it all4 ,just a moment1 ,pedro6 she called to a waiter who was passing at the moment4 ,pedro completed his service at another table1 then came over to ,zona4 ,did you ever see these people here8 asked ,zona1 turning over the photographs of ,vina and ,shattuck4 ,pedro was at first suspicious1 and1 in fact1 ,i do not believe that he would have told us a thing had it not been ,zona herself who questioned him4 ,yes1 he admitted1 finally1 ,i remember one night they were here4 ,did you serve them8 asked ,zona4 ,yes1 he replied1 apparently reluctant to be drawn into anything4 ,do you remember anything that happened8 ,i was very busy1 he evaded4 ,the woman came in first alone1 ,i remember1 and said she was waiting for a friend4 ,then the man came in4 ,i thought she was surprised to see him--but ,i thought it was all right4 ,she had said she was going to meet a friend4 ,i shot a quick glance at ,belle1 who nodded4 ,it was evident that ,vina had not expected to meet this friend4 ,do you remember anything that was said8 ,i ventured4 ,pedro looked at me suspiciously4 ,i was too busy serving1 he replied4 ,it was the busy time4 ,what seems to be the trouble8 ,i asked1 not cross-questioningly1 but more as if merely for information4 ,you don't seem to want to answer4 ,are you afraid of something8 ,pedro regarded me a moment1 then looked at ,zona4 ,it's all right1 she reassured4 ,well--you see--once ,i was in a divorce suit--in court--,i lose t'ree1 four days' pay--the boss he fire me4 ,are you detective8 ,i smiled and evaded the question1 under cover of ,zona's presence1 and again reassured him4 ,there was another woman came in1 wasn't there8 ,i asked1 as ,belle produced the photograph of ,honora4 ,yes--that's her4 ,she didn't sit with them1 ,i prompted4 ,no1 he replied1 over there1 pointing to the table ,zona had already indicated4 ,did you wait on her8 ,no--,louis4 ,but you saw her8 ,but yes--every one did--one could not help4 ,she came in as though she was looking for some one4 ,and then what8 ,i was serving the fish4 ,this woman1 she get up quickly and come down to the table4 ,oh--but she was angry--at the man--at the woman4 ,did she make a scene--,i mean did every one see it8 ,i should say6 ,i had just left the table--but every one see it--yes--and hear1 too1 ,i think4 ,what did you hear8 ,i8 ,nothing4 ,i was by that time at the door to the kitchen4 ,but she was angry--the color in her cheeks--the voice4 ,i think she must be the wife of the man--she seem so angry at him1 also4 ,discreet ,pedro1 ,i reflected4 ,he was making everything as indefinite as possible to render himself less liable to be called to court in case of trouble4 ,however1 he was telling me just what ,i wanted to know4 ,it was already sufficiently evident that ,vina had actually had the appointment first with ,wilford himself1 that she had got there early1 that he had been late1 perhaps purposely1 due to some suspicion1 or perhaps to make sure of covering himself1 for he must have provided for ,rascon's operative in case of trouble4 ,piecing the thing together1 ,i was convinced that1 in some way1 ,honora had learned of the appointment and that ,shattuck had learned of it1 too--though it must have been independent1 else why their encounter8 ,shattuck had come--perhaps to face ,wilford4 ,at any rate1 he had been sitting with ,honora when ,wilford's wife1 of all persons1 came in and saw him with ,vina4 ,there my deductions broke down4 ,what were her emotions8 ,was she jealous of ,shattuck paying attentions to the woman who had so fascinated her own husband8 ,how far was she piqued at the thought of not having hold enough over ,shattuck1 also1 to keep him from ,vina8 ,as for ,shattuck1 was he really fascinated by ,vina1 after all8 ,i did not try to pursue that line of analysis farther1 yet4 ,at any rate1 ,honora had seen them and in turn had herself been seen by her own husband1 who had stopped only just long enough to give his detective instructions1 then had departed unobserved by the other three as he entered4 ,whatever ,shattuck's attempt at explanation1 when faced by ,honora1 it had not been convincing1 at least to her4 ,they had left together1 parted at the door4 ,but ,i knew that the misunderstanding must have been patched up later1 for they had been together since that time4 ,a few more questions showed that ,pedro had nothing to add1 and ,i let him go4 ,zona told me what little she had observed4 ,from the other waiter1 ,louis1 ,i learned one thing1 however1 about ,honora and her actions before she rose and made the little scene at the other table4 ,she had come in rather pale and agitated4 ,as she sat there1 having ordered1 but with her food untouched1 she had seemed to get much calmer1 though her face became more and more flushed and her eyes animated as she missed no movement of the other couple4 ,it was that very absorption that probably had been the cause of her missing the very man she sought1 her husband4 ,but it meant more than that4 ,it told me something of her nature1 that this woman was of the sort that1 when a crisis approached1 instead of going to pieces1 like many others1 was able to keep such a grip on herself that she swept ahead through the crisis coolly and clearly1 in spite of the suppressed excitement4 ,that spoke volumes4 ,no doubt when the relaxation came she was on the verge of collapse4 ,but as long as the need lasted she had complete control4 ,did that mean that at the present moment1 as she faced ,kennedy1 she was repeating the same performance8 ,louis had gone1 and ,zona turned to ,belle and myself as if to ask whether there was anything else she might do for us1 at the same time looking at her watch and fingering her cup as a hint that she was a busy woman and must get away4 ,why did ,shattuck meet her here8 ,i thought aloud1 wondering if1 perhaps1 ,zona herself might not know them and betray something4 ,she shrugged1 and ,i was morally certain that she did know them both1 and well4 ,but evidently1 as to bringing herself personally or her theories directly into the case1 there was a barrier4 ,mr4 ,shattuck seemed to be interested--but--you can never tell4 ,he is one of those men who have the faculty of making every woman think she is the only woman4 ,did he ever discuss things with you--,i mean ,freud--current topics of conversation8 ,i ventured1 covering my interest as best ,i could4 ,oh yes1 in a general way4 ,almost everybody who comes here does4 ,they all know my hobbies4 ,that's why they come here1 ,i guess4 ,isn't it1 ,belle8 ,to see you1 dear--yes4 ,i know ,i do4 ,without ,zona--there are a dozen places one might go4 ,they lack something4 ,he seemed interested in ,freud8 ,i pursued4 ,y-yes--but so are we all down here1 just now4 ,evidently ,zona was hedging4 ,i gathered that ,shattuck's interest had been rather more than ordinary4 ,and ,vina ,lathrop--was she interested1 too8 ,you must have known her4 ,yes1 ,i knew her4 ,vina was interested--of course4 ,but1 then1 who is not1 just now8 ,a few years ago only a few had read ,freud4 ,even after he was translated1 still there were only a few4 ,but now--since my play--we have other plays1 books1 stories1 articles--even ,freud doctors1 who before were unknown to the public1 have come outside of the medical press with their names and work4 ,of course ,vina ,lathrop was interested4 ,all women are interested in ,freud4 ,don't you think it concerns us--just a bit more intimately than it does men8 ,for the moment ,zona had forgotten her haste to get away and was leaning forward earnestly over the empty tea-caddy4 ,most assuredly1 ,i agreed1 realizing suddenly one reason why ,freud is taken up so readily in a circle such as that which ,i was now tangent to4 ,he offers an easy1 scientific highroad to the discussion of intimate sex--and that is1 after all1 under the veneer1 the middle name of ,greenwich ,village1 as it is of all highbrows when one comes to get under their skins and truly understand what secretly is back of their uplifts and reforms in social evils and hygiene4 ,but what of ,honora8 ,i asked1 loath to lose the piquant assistance of ,zona1 once ,i had it4 ,why was she here8 ,had she come to watch ,shattuck8 ,or was it to watch ,vina8 ,or was it really to watch her husband8 ,her husband or ,shattuck--,i wonder which8 ,suppose it was either8 shrugged ,zona1 nonchalantly4 ,what of it8 ,evidently the spell of her interest in the ,freud discussion had broken when she finished her last sentence4 ,in the former case she is merely old-fashioned1 added ,zona1 in the latter merely foolish4 ,with this typical meaningless cleverness that in reality hides the shallowness of our advanced thinkers ,zona bade us adieu4 ,belle and ,i chatted a few moments1 when she suddenly discovered she was half an hour late for an engagement4 ,i settled the check1 and we tipped our way out and into a cab that whirled us up-town1 while ,belle poked fun at my benighted conservatism1 which ,i did not mind in the least4 ,i left her at her hotel1 with hearty thanks for the great help she had been in the case1 and sincerely happy1 in addition to that1 for a pleasant couple of hours at dinner with a girl with whom one might disagree yet still regard highly4 ,a few minutes later ,i was at the laboratory1 full of a new-born theory that ,shattuck1 down in the ,village1 had studied ,freud more than we had suspected merely from finding ,freud's books in his library--that he must have known ,honora's dreams1 interpreted them1 and found out secretly she still loved him1 as her open jealousy had1 perhaps1 showed in the incident ,i had unearthed4 ,craig was already there1 and at work4 ,he listened attentively and without comment to what ,i had to report4 ,what have you found8 ,i asked1 finally1 when ,i had finished with my own facts and theories4 ,oh1 ,i've been down to ,shattuck's office in ,wall ,street1 he answered1 rather absently4 ,and you saw him8 ,how did he take it8 ,he was very angry4 ,asked me if ,i was going to try my case in the newspapers--was very sarcastic4 ,i was just about leaving when ,i met ,doctor ,lathrop coming in4 ,doctor ,lathrop--coming in6 ,i exclaimed4 ,how was that8 ,how was ,lathrop--and why there8 ,i saw him alone first4 ,he was very much upstage with me4 ,i thought there was something brewing1 so ,i stayed--that is1 went back with him4 ,i'm glad ,i did4 ,i think ,i narrowly averted a fight4 ,lathrop threatened ,shattuck--that is1 ,i mean1 all in a very polite way--but it practically amounted to telling him to stop seeing his wife1 to have no more business relations with her1 and all that4 ,it was in the nature of serving notice4 ,shattuck is very high-spirited4 ,i think if ,i had not been there there would have been trouble4 ,but ,lathrop was very suave and diplomatic4 ,i'm wondering about this man ,shattuck1 ,i put in4 ,is he woman-crazy8 ,the laboratory door was suddenly flung open and ,doyle burst in4 ,some news6 he exclaimed1 excitedly4 ,the dictagraph works4 ,i should expect it to do so1 calmed ,kennedy4 ,it has never failed me yet1 when properly used1 like all science and invention1 at the right time and place4 ,say--you're a cold shower4 ,listen--,i'm getting closer to her6 ,,xiii ,,the ,,mechanical ,,ear ,then it was ,honora you overheard over the dictagraph8 ,i asked1 quickly4 ,not at first1 replied ,doyle4 ,i'll come to that later4 ,let me give it all to you first4 ,he pulled from his pocket a set of typewritten notes and excitedly began to condense what ,mc,cabe had just heard over the dictagraph in the ,wilford apartment1 sometimes giving it to us from memory1 then refreshing his mind from what ,mc,cabe had transcribed4 ,it seems that the maid1 ,celeste1 had a visitor1 began ,doyle4 ,who was it8 hastened ,kennedy1 impatiently4 ,a man named ,chase4 ,who's he8 ,another detective4 ,like ,rascon8 ,doyle nodded doubtfully4 ,i don't seem to know him1 he remarked1 sententiously1 though in a tone that was prejudiced4 ,to ,doyle all private detective agencies were as the scum of the earth4 ,i know ,kennedy made mental note to look the man up1 unprejudiced4 ,what do you know about him8 asked ,craig4 ,very little--except that from what ,celeste said ,mrs4 ,wilford herself must have employed him at one time or another--perhaps even now4 ,i guess that woman knew more about what was going on than we think4 ,i glanced from ,doyle to ,kennedy4 ,could it be possible that we ourselves1 in turn1 were being watched by her8 ,and was ,honora not the simple1 unsophisticated woman ,i had thought8 ,evidently1 went on ,doyle1 ,celeste was trying to fasten the crime on ,vina ,lathrop4 ,how's that8 queried ,kennedy1 sharply4 ,well1 returned ,doyle1 running his eye over the transcribed conversation to pick out that part which substantiated the statement1 it seems as though ,celeste was trying to tell ,chase something that ,chase didn't accept4 ,here it is4 ,chase's remark was lost--but it must have been about ,mrs4 ,wilford's actions that night of the murder4 ',no1 no1 no--she was not out of this apartment that night4' ,that was what ,celeste said in answer to him4 ',come1 come1 now1' ,chase said1 'what's the use of that8 ,you might tell that to ,doyle--but why tell me8 ,where was she8' ,you see1 they're all trying to put it over on me1 interjected ,doyle1 apoplectically4 ,she might have been out--and still not have been near ,mr4 ,wilford or his office1 ,i returned4 ,doyle gave me a withering glance and did not even deign to reply to a mere reporter4 ,here's the other thing1 ,kennedy1 ignored ,doyle4 ,i mean about trying to put it on ,vina ,lathrop--to save ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ',wasn't she at ,mr4 ,wilford's office8' ,that's a return question from ,celeste to ,chase to divert attention1 ,i tell you4 ,what was ,chase's answer8 ,doyle ran his eye down the page4 ',i've traced pretty nearly everything ,mrs4 ,lathrop did that night--except for a couple of hours after she left the ,gorham ,hotel1 where she had dinner4 ,if ,i could locate the driver of the cab that took her away1 ,i'd get a clue4 ,but it was a passing taxi the doorman hailed1 and there doesn't seem to be any trace of him--yet4' ,there--don't you see8 ,they're trying to get something on ,mrs4 ,lathrop4 ,it's plain4 ,i ask you--why8 ,doyle leaned back and regarded us with an air of conscious triumph4 ,cost what it will1 he added1 it's apparent that ,celeste is devoted and loyal to ,honora ,wilford1 too4 ,i tell you they're covering up something1 he emphasized1 waving the notes1 and ,i intend to uncover it4 ,however1 ,kennedy did not seem to attach much importance to what either ,celeste or ,chase had said4 ,evidently he had a pretty clear idea already of what had happened4 ,i recalled ,celeste and the ,aussage test4 ,was ,celeste to be trusted--even over a dictagraph8 ,doyle seemed to read in ,kennedy's face what ,i had already seen1 and hastened on to new points in his arguments from the notes4 ,that's all very well about ,celeste1 he continued1 excitedly1 but here's the real news1 after all4 ,the most important thing was what happened an hour or so later1 after ,chase had gone4 ,mc,cabe picked up the voice of a woman4 ,it was ,mrs4 ,lathrop herself calling on ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,how about that8 ,what6 ,i exclaimed1 involuntarily1 ,i suppose1 because of ,kennedy's continued silence4 ,vina called on ,honora ,wilford8 ,why1 man1 ,i should have thought the wires would have fused6 ,well1 that's what she did1 asserted ,doyle1 and you'll be more surprised when ,i tell you what happened4 ,doyle was enjoying the suspense he himself had created4 ,still ,kennedy said nothing1 not so much1 ,i think1 because he would not give ,doyle the satisfaction of observing his interest as because his mind was at work piecing into his own theories the new facts that were being brought out4 ,for that has always been ,kennedy's method--the gathering of facts1 fitting them together1 like a mosaic1 with fragments missing1 and then with endless patience fitting the new fragments as they are discovered into the whole picture of a crime until the case was completed and he was ready to act with relentless and unerring precision4 ,as for myself1 ,i listened to what ,doyle had to reveal with amazement4 ,here was a meeting1 separated only by hours1 if not merely by minutes1 from another in which ,vina's own husband had called on ,shattuck4 ,as nearly as ,i can make out from ,mc,cabe's notes1 began ,doyle1 ,mrs4 ,lathrop must have been seeking this meeting and ,mrs4 ,wilford avoiding it for some time4 ,you see1 the interview was so passionate that often the voices were indistinct and his notes are fragmentary in spots4 ,however1 there's enough to show what it was all about4 ,doyle turned a page4 ,it started with ,mrs4 ,lathrop accusing ,mrs4 ,wilford of avoiding seeing her4 ,when ,mrs4 ,wilford pleaded the tragedy and the surveillance she is under1 ,mrs4 ,lathrop hinted that she was using these things to shield herself4 ,here's where ,mrs4 ,lathrop began to let something out4 ',your maid1 ,celeste1 ,i hear1 has been talking about me4 ,and ,i know1 also1 ,honora1 that you've had a private detective1 a man named ,chase4 ,you've had him following me6' ,mc,cabe tells me that the tone of this was very accusing1 and that ,mrs4 ,wilford did not make any attempt to answer4 ,i only wish we had something like a dictagraph--detectavue1 ,i'd call it--that would let us look at the faces of some of these people as we hear them over this mechanical ear--a mechanical eye1 understand8 ,i'll wager ,mrs4 ,wilford's face was a study4 ,she's a match for any man4 ,but ,i'd like to see her matched against a woman like ,mrs4 ,lathrop4 ,she's clever1 ,kennedy1 clever4 ,kennedy nodded1 but without enthusiasm over the proposition4 ,rather it was an invitation to ,doyle to go on4 ,there's a lot more1 continued ,doyle1 hurriedly4 ,here's what ,i want4 ,listen to this4 ,if it's true1 we've got something4 ,mrs4 ,wilford hadn't said much and it seemed to arouse ,mrs4 ,lathrop to go farther4 ,listen4 ',i hadn't intended to say this1 ,honora1' she burst out1 'but you were at his office--that night4 ,come--own up1 dear4' ,get that 'dear' at the end8 ,i don't know where ,mrs4 ,lathrop got her information4 ,i wish ,i did4 ,but at least she seems to me to know something4 ,or else she's very clever at fishing for information1 ,i interrupted1 for ,i was not able to restrain it4 ,doyle was so cocksure of his deductions that it antagonized me4 ,on his part1 ,i am sure1 while he may not have had much respect for my profession1 he had a wholesome fear of it1 as many detectives have4 ,for1 after all1 we newspaper men have the key that unlocks the door to everything4 ,on the other hand1 ,i must admit that ,i was not at all positive in my own mind4 ,was ,vina fishing--or did she really know something8 ,was that why ,honora was silent8 ,or was ,honora contemptuous of a woman of ,vina's type and was silence without any admission her sweetest revenge8 ,what was the purpose that lay back of this visit8 ,for one thing1 the silence of ,honora1 whether it spelled guilt or mere contempt1 had its effect on ,vina and made her more daring4 ',then this ,professor ,kennedy1' continued ,doyle1 reading from the notes4 ',with that ,mr4 ,jameson he has been finding out things at the ,orange and ,blue ,tea-room and other places4 ,they've got a woman working for them1 too1 ,i imagine4 ,i tell you1 ,honora1 they know4' ',know what8' ,honora answered1 and ,mc,cabe thought she wasn't quite as cold and calm as usual4 ,then ,mrs4 ,lathrop went a little bit farther--oh1 ,i'll say that these women are clever--both of them4 ,on the whole1 now ,i'm not so sure which of them carried off the honors4 ,come to think of it1 ,mrs4 ,wilford was clever1 too4 ,she has to be4 ,anyhow1 ,mrs4 ,lathrop went a step farther4 ',they know about the ,greenwich ,village stuff1 now4' ,what's that1 ,kennedy8 ,you never told me that4 ,there was something reproachful in ,doyle's voice1 assumed1 no doubt1 but still there1 as much as to say that he was taking ,kennedy into his confidence and expected a return4 ,kennedy stole a glance at me and ,i understood4 ,it was just this that had impelled ,doyle to come to us4 ,he had not understood it himself and1 in order to keep up with us1 was obliged to take us into his own confidence4 ,briefly ,kennedy related1 with an occasional word from me1 what had happened since the river-front-saloon raid4 ,oh1 ,i see1 remarked ,doyle1 though any one could tell that he really did not see4 ,that's what she meant when she went on and said1 ',about ,freud and all that1 ,honora4 ,zona ,dare told me1 over the 'phone4 ,that's why ,i came over4' ',indeed1 ,vina1 you needn't have troubled yourself1' was ,mrs4 ,wilford's reply4 ',it's a matter of perfect indifference to me how much or how little ,professor ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,jameson know or find out4' ,mc,cabe says she was very cutting in her remarks there4 ,but he also says he thought she was weakening4 ,anyhow1 it had its effect on ,mrs4 ,lathrop4 ,she flared right up4 ',don't care8' she cried4 ',you don't care if ,kennedy finds out about your interest in the play1 about your life1 about ,freud1 the soul scar theory1 and all that8 ,i may not know much about science and especially this new psychology1 but ,i'm blessed1 ,honora1 if ,i'd want any one raking up the past4' ',i should say not--,vina4' ,pretty pointed1 wasn't it8 ,these two love each other like a ,german and a ,frenchman4 ,doyle paused1 then went on reading and summarizing4 ,it was as ,i had been suspecting for several moments4 ,in an instant the two women were on the dangerous ground of ,honora's early engagement to ,shattuck4 ,what they said did not seem so very important and ,i omit this part of it4 ,however1 ,i knew it would lead to something4 ',you broke off the engagement1 ,honora1 because of his escapades1' finally hinted ,mrs4 ,lathrop1 with claws behind the velvety tone of the remark4 ',and yet--' ,mrs4 ,wilford interrupted here4 ',it is a far more important thing1 ,vina1 that a woman should keep herself clean than for a man--far more important for the race4 ,not that ,i would excuse things in any man4' ,mc,cabe says that remark went right home to ,mrs4 ,lathrop4 ,she flared up4 ',oh1 tush1 ,honora--more of your highbrow philosophy4 ,you talking about the race6 ,where are your children8 ,i've been studying you1 ,honora4 ,you may think you're a highbrow4 ,i guess you are4 ,they all--you--are like the rest of us1 with the same passions--no better1 no worse4 ,remember--it's you have the soul scar--you6' ,the cat1 ,i could not help but mutter4 ,again1 recalling ,kennedy's instructions1 ,i wondered whether consciously ,honora had rejected ,shattuck while at the same time she unconsciously accepted him as a lover8 ,evidently now each was accusing the other--and over ,shattuck4 ,i recalled ,honora's dreams which she had told willingly4 ,there was the dream of the bull and the serpent4 ,that was sex4 ,again ,i recalled the dream of the forest and the hill she had been struggling to get up4 ,in this dream ,i recalled the fire1 the climbing1 the explosion1 and her dream of the other woman1 with her unwillingness to admit to us that the other woman might be no other than ,vina4 ,then there was the unexplained dream she had about ,doctor ,lathrop1 the lion in the path4 ,evidently ,honora had been betrayed into some dangerous admissions in her dreams1 ,i thought4 ,what's next8 came ,kennedy's voice4 ,i get the drift of what was really back of it all4 ,let's go on4 ,doyle eyed ,kennedy quizzically for a moment4 ,kennedy's explanation of the psychology of the thing had been much over ,doyle's head and had left him in doubt4 ,he turned back to ,mc,cabe's notes4 ,it's ,mrs4 ,lathrop speaking next1 and she was very angry4 ',if you don't leave him alone1 ,honora--,i'll tell ,kennedy all that ,i know4' ,doyle shot a glance of inquiry4 ,she hasn't told it yet1 answered ,kennedy4 ,what next8 ,i guess it got under ,mrs4 ,wilford's skin4 ',i don't understand men1' she cried4 ',but ,i understand you4 ,it is revenge--revenge on me that you want1 ,vina4' ,she got back a thrust at ,mrs4 ,lathrop1 anyhow1 ,i commented4 ,yet ,i wondered what ,vina's motive might be4 ,was it merely due to her insane infatuation for ,shattuck8 ,as for ,honora1 was she1 ,i kept wondering1 after all1 the consciously frigid1 unconsciously passionate woman8 ,at least1 she was a most perplexing complex4 ,doyle had closed his note-book with the remark that his little mechanical eavesdropper had made an excellent start1 and now was looking inquiringly at ,kennedy4 ,where is ,chase8 asked ,kennedy4 ,have you any idea8 ,mc,cabe looked up the name and finds that there is a ,chase agency on ,forty-second ,street4 ,you might try it4 ,accordingly1 we set out for the address of the detective which ,mc,cabe had located and found that it was a small office in a building near ,fifth ,avenue4 ,chase himself proved to be a rather frank-faced1 energetic young fellow1 not at all typical of the private detective4 ,in fact1 he had had some experience as an operative for one of the big agencies1 and1 having some money1 had achieved the dream of every such operative--an agency of his own1 small1 but at least his own4 ,it did not take much questioning to get the main facts out of ,chase1 who kept repeating that neither he nor ,mrs4 ,wilford had anything to conceal4 ,anyhow1 the mystery of ,chase was solved4 ,chase was a detective whom ,mrs4 ,wilford had retained for her own protection against the unprincipled operatives of her husband4 ,he proved to be apparently honest and straightforward4 ,though he could shed very little light on the deeper problems that confronted us1 there were many things we had already unearthed which his reports corroborated4 ,it was apparent that ,honora was perfectly aware of what had been going on between her husband and ,vina ,lathrop4 ,chase had kept her informed of that4 ,yet1 no matter how accurate his reports1 ,i reflected1 it did not absolve ,honora4 ,in fact1 the more she knew1 the more likely ,doyle was to say that the information constituted a motive that would have caused her to act4 ,what do you know about ,mrs4 ,wilford's whereabouts on the night ,mr4 ,wilford was killed8 questioned ,kennedy1 coming finally to the most important point that had been revealed by ,mc,cabe's dictagraph records4 ,chase looked him straight in the eye and considered a moment before answering4 ,it's true1 ,i don't know much4 ,that is one thing ,i'd rather not talk about until ,i do4 ,but she's your client4 ,hasn't she told you8 ,there are some communications that are privileged1 was ,chase's enigmatical answer4 ,but can't you see that it's placing her in a wrong light--supposing everything she did that night was innocent8 ,she ought to tell for her own sake--don't you think8 ,chase shrugged4 ,perhaps1 he added1 non-committally4 ,kennedy1 ,i thought1 had some respect for the young man who was not to be betrayed into dangerous admissions4 ,then this other woman1 ,mrs4 ,lathrop1 pursued ,kennedy1 shifting the subject4 ,there's a hiatus in the accounts of her doings that night1 also4 ,chase was more disposed to talk4 ,yes1 he answered4 ,i've been trying to trace that out4 ,haven't succeeded--but have hopes4 ,i tell you what ,i'll do4 ,if ,i can reconstruct what both--see8 both--of these women did1 well1 ,i was going to say ,i'd give it to you4 ,but ,i'd have to ask ,mrs4 ,wilford's permission4 ,she's my client1 after all4 ,i tried to reason out what ,chase was doing4 ,did he know something about his client that he must shield her from1 or was he just a bit vexed at her himself for a certain lack of frankness8 ,as far as ,vina was concerned1 ,i knew he would have no scruples in telling us everything he discovered4 ,evidently1 ,chase saw that he was losing his first good impression with ,kennedy4 ,to re-establish himself1 he opened a locked steel compartment in his desk and pulled out a small box4 ,here's something that might interest you1 he remarked1 handing the box to ,kennedy4 ,ever see one of those8 ,kennedy opened the box4 ,inside reposed a single ,calabar bean6 ,craig looked up quickly4 ,yes4 ,where did you get it8 ,if you'll promise to ask me no more--just yet--,i'll tell you4 ,kennedy nodded and ,chase took it as a gentleman4 ,i found it1 with some other ,african souvenirs1 in a little cabinet-museum in ,mr4 ,shattuck's apartment4 ,now don't ask me why ,i was there or what else ,i found4 ,kennedy smiled1 thanked him and handed back the box4 ,it was a perplexing piece of information4 ,if ,shattuck was known to have had in his possession some of the fatal ,calabar beans1 what interpretation could be placed on it8 ,or was it that ,chase was working to protect his client and save her--at any cost and in spite of her own wishes8 ,we left ,chase1 and ,kennedy hastened back to the laboratory1 where at once he set to work with a paper and pencil1 writing words that seemed utterly disconnected1 while ,i stood about self-consciously1 watching him4 ,please1 ,walter1 he exclaimed at length1 a little bit nervously1 you are distracting me4 ,you see1 he added1 briskly1 that interview with ,chase has reminded me of something4 ,why was he in ,shattuck's apartment8 ,for what8 ,when8 ,i don't need his help1 of course4 ,but he has made me think that ,i can't afford to let ,mrs4 ,wilford get out of my sight too long4 ,if ,i ever get at the bottom of this thing1 it must be through study of her1 first4 ,i think ,i shall be ready soon to visit her again4 ,and this time1 ,i'm sure1 ,i shall find out what ,i want4 ,i've a new plan4 ,don't disturb me for a few minutes4 ,i turned my back and pretended to be busy over some work of my own1 though out of the corner of my eye ,i watched him4 ,craig was at work over a sheet of paper and ,i saw him writing down one word after another1 changing them1 adding to them1 taking away words and substituting others4 ,altogether1 it was a strange performance and ,i had not the faintest idea what it was all about until he was willing to reveal it to me4 ,meanwhile a thousand ideas whirled through my head4 ,chase's revelation had put a new face on matters4 ,one by one1 we were finding out that each of our suspects knew first of all more about the ,freud theory of dreams than we anticipated4 ,now it would appear that each was more or less familiar with the ,calabar bean1 or at least with its derivative1 physostigmine4 ,even ,vina1 being a doctor's wife1 might have known4 ,though we were getting more facts1 they were not1 so far as ,i could interpret them1 pointing more definitely in any one direction4 ,when ,craig had finished1 he copied the words off on my typewriter1 in a long column1 one word on each line1 and1 after the long vertical list1 he left two columns blank3 #a #b #c foot gray dream struggle ship bean lion book false voyage money sad quarrel marry bull sleep foolish despise finger friend serpent face chair bottle glass ,now1 he remarked1 as he finished and saw my questioning look1 let me get my delicate split-second watch from this cabinet1 and ,i'm ready for a new and final test of ,honora ,wilford4 ,let's go4 ,,xiv ,,the ,,jung ,,method ,on the way to the ,wilford apartment1 which was not very far away1 ,craig explained briefly what it was that he wanted me to do for him4 ,you saw that list of words8 he asked4 ,yes1 and the columns opposite4 ,precisely4 ,i want you to write in them the answers that ,i get4 ,you will understand as we go on4 ,i'll hold this watch and note the time--and then we can put the two together1 the answers and the reaction time4 ,it seemed simple enough and we chatted about other things connected with the case as we walked along to the apartment4 ,honora ,wilford showed some surprise at seeing us again1 yet ,i fancied she was in a better mood than previously1 since the obnoxious ,mc,cabe was no longer so much in evidence4 ,what is it that ,i can do for you now8 she asked1 rather abruptly1 though her manner showed that her surprise was1 after all1 very mild4 ,evidently ,doyle had accustomed her to being quizzed and watched4 ,it was not a pleasant situation1 even to be watched and quizzed by ,kennedy1 yet she seemed to realize that he was making it as easy as possible4 ,just another little psychological experiment1 ,craig explained1 trying to gloss it over4 ,i thought you wouldn't mind4 ,honora looked at him a moment doubtfully4 ,just why are you so interested in studying me1 ,professor ,kennedy8 she asked1 pointedly1 yet without hostility in her tone4 ,it was a rather difficult question to answer1 and ,i must admit that ,i could scarcely have met it adequately myself4 ,however1 it took more than that to give ,kennedy a poser4 ,oh1 he replied1 quickly1 with an engaging airiness1 as a psychologist ,i'm interested in all sorts of queer things--things that must often seem strange to other people4 ,perhaps it's highbrow stuff4 ,but for a long time--and not in connection with you at all1 ,mrs4 ,wilford--,i've been interested in dreams4 ,he paused a moment1 moving a chair for her1 and ,i could see that he was observing the effect of the statement on her4 ,she did not seem to show any emotion at all over it1 and ,kennedy went on4 ,often ,i've studied my own dreams4 ,i find that if1 when ,i wake in the morning1 ,i immediately try to recollect whether ,i have dreamed anything the night before or not1 ,i invariably find that ,i have4 ,but if ,i do something else--even as simple a thing as take a bath or shave--unless the dreams were especially vivid1 they are all gone when ,i try to recollect them4 ,i'm almost convinced that we dream continuously in sleep1 that more often we don't recollect the dreams than we do4 ,your dreams interested me at the very start4 ,i guess that was why ,doctor ,leslie repeated them to me4 ,he knew that ,i was a crank1 if you may call it that1 on dreams4 ,as for detective work of the old kind--that sort of thing ,doyle does and--well--,i leave that to ,doyle4 ,he shrugged4 ,as ,kennedy rattled on1 ,i could see or fancy that ,honora was becoming more reassured4 ,what is it you want me to do now8 she asked1 her reluctance disappearing4 ,nothing very difficult--for you1 he flattered4 ,you see1 ,i have here a list of words1 selected at random4 ,i don't suppose it will mean anything4 ,yet there are lots of things these strange people1 the modern experimental psychologists1 do that seem perfectly foolish until you understand them4 ,if we can once get at the bottom of your dreams1 find out what causes them1 ,i mean1 ,i feel sure that we can make that nervousness of yours vanish as a prestidigitator will cause a card to vanish into thin air4 ,she nodded4 ,at least on the surface1 she seemed satisfied1 though ,i could not be sure but that beneath the surface it was really that she was shrewdly convinced that it was necessary to make the best of a bad situation4 ,you see1 ,craig pursued1 seizing whatever advantage he might have1 as ,i read off from the list of words1 ,i wish that you would repeat the first word1 anything1 he emphasized1 that comes into your mind1 no matter how trivial it may seem to you4 ,perhaps it is not so trivial1 after all1 as you think4 ,it may be just the thing that will lead to helping you4 ,she nodded dutifully1 but her attitude did not seem to please ,kennedy thoroughly4 ,don't force yourself to think1 he hastened4 ,let your ideas flow naturally4 ,it depends altogether on your paying attention to the words1 undivided attention1 and answering as quickly as you can4 ,remember--the first word that comes into your mind4 ,don't change it--no matter what it is1 even if it seems trivial and of no consequence4 ,it's very easy to do and it won't take long4 ,call it a game if you will4 ,but take it seriously4 ,suppose ,i refuse to do it8 she suggested4 ,kennedy merely shrugged4 ,i hardly think you will do that1 he smiled quietly4 ,besides1 it will be over soon4 ,she leaned back in the easy-chair in which she had been sitting1 and ,kennedy took it as a tacit consent to the test4 ,from the paper1 as ,i placed myself at a table1 with the list of words and the blank columns before me1 he read the first word1 quickly and incisively1 ,foot4 ,shoe1 countered ,honora quickly1 then gazed at him to see whether she had caught the idea of what it was he wanted her to do4 ,very good1 nodded ,kennedy1 reassuringly4 ,that's the thing4 ,i wrote down the word and when ,i had finished ,i could see from the corner of my eye that ,kennedy also had noted the time1 marking down #b-e1 which ,i took to mean two-fifths of a second4 ,gray1 he repeated next4 ,black4 ,again ,i noted the answering word in the second column1 while again ,i saw him put down another #b-e4 ,i began to see dimly what his method was4 ,evidently ,kennedy had chosen colorless words at the start to reassure her4 ,and the fact was that they did reassure4 ,she saw immediately that there was nothing very terrifying about what he wanted her to do4 ,dream1 ,craig added1 from the list4 ,flashed through my mind1 as ,i prepared to write1 the thought that he was now coming to the words more significant4 ,lathrop1 she answered4 ,i saw that ,kennedy had noted a longer reaction time by some fifths of a second than before4 ,was it because she had checked a first thought suggested by the word and had taken extra time to substitute something for it8 ,and why had she made the substitution that she did8 ,it was a natural thing to mention the doctor's name in that connection4 ,had she rejected one word to cast about for another equally natural8 ,i scarcely think it necessary to follow the whole thing through1 question and answer1 word by word4 ,instead ,i have appended a list of the words and the answering words as we got them first1 and suggest that they will bear careful study3 #a #b #c foot shoe gray black dream ,lathrop struggle escape ship ocean bean baked lion path book newspaper false true voyage ,europe money poor sad myself quarrel ,vail marry ,vail bull breath sleep dream foolish wise despise love finger hand friend none serpent hiss face man chair sit bottle stopper glass empty ,kennedy finished and glanced hastily over the list of words that ,i had written1 as well as the fractions of seconds which he had jotted down on his own sheet of paper4 ,honora1 unable to make out quite what was the reason back of all these enigmatical proceedings1 watched his face narrowly4 ,did ,i do all right8 she asked1 with just a trace of anxiety in her tone4 ,very fine1 thank you1 assured ,kennedy4 ,it wasn't such a terrible thing1 after all1 was it8 ,n-no1 she admitted1 reluctantly4 ,craig continued to look over the list1 talking about all sorts of perfectly unrelated subjects with her1 as though to remove from her mind as much is possible the memory of what had been said and done4 ,there is just one other thing ,i want1 he added1 as he picked up the list again and handed it to me1 his finger significantly on the third column that he had laid out4 ,it won't take long1 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 now that you understand the game4 ,walter1 take that other column4 ,i am merely going through the list rapidly again4 ,don't try to recollect the answers you gave--but then1 on the other hand1 don't try to make them different4 ,do you get what ,i mean8 ,don't force your ideas4 ,just remain relaxed1 easy1 natural4 ,let me have just what comes into your mind1 the moment it occurs to you--please don't try to change it4 ,i see1 she murmured1 but ,i thought in a manner that showed she was just a little bit on her guard1 and determined1 if she made any slips before1 not to repeat them4 ,in quick staccato ,kennedy repeated the words from the list1 beginning with foot1 to which again1 almost mechanically1 she responded with shoe4 ,i noted the answering words1 as before1 while he recorded the time4 ,it did not take me long to see that what ,kennedy was after was to discover whether1 on the second trial1 she would make any very significant changes in the words4 ,nor was he giving her a chance to cover up4 ,the words came so fast that even ,i had no time to dwell on them4 ,i shall not pause to do so here1 for later ,kennedy analyzed them carefully4 ,here is our third list1 complete3 #a #b #c foot shoe shoe gray black black dream ,lathrop ,lathrop struggle escape escape ship ocean ocean bean baked white lion path beard book newspaper newspaper false true true voyage ,europe ,europe money poor poor sad myself myself quarrel ,vail words marry ,vail ,vail bull breath field sleep dream dream foolish wise wise despise love like finger hand hand friend none none serpent hiss crowd face man stranger chair sit sit bottle stopper stopper glass empty empty ,even as ,i was going along under ,kennedy's high pressure1 ,i mentally noted that there were some remarkable similarities in the answers that ,honora gave1 but1 more particularly1 that there were also some significant changes1 although neither so far conveyed much information to me4 ,i knew that even to ,kennedy the process would most likely require analysis in the quiet of the laboratory and ,i refrained absolutely from comment1 though ,i could see that ,honora would have liked to appeal to me1 had it not been for the restraining presence of ,kennedy4 ,thank you very much1 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 said ,kennedy1 when he had finished with both his words and reaction times and was putting away the papers in his pocket4 ,is that all8 she asked4 ,i think so4 ,a look of relief passed over her face4 ,quite naturally1 she was growing tired of always being forced to play a part1 whether before ,doyle and ,mc,cabe or before us4 ,i had rather expected that ,kennedy would take the occasion to make some reference to the recent discoveries we had made both in ,greenwich ,village and over the dictagraph1 more especially as they concerned ,shattuck and herself4 ,but he did not4 ,nor did she show any anxiety or make any inquiry herself4 ,it seemed to me that1 perhaps1 ,honora and ,kennedy were themselves playing a game1 a war of wills1 as it were4 ,at any rate1 the test over1 there was a truce4 ,some time later we returned to the laboratory and there ,kennedy set to work carefully comparing the lists of words and his own records of time4 ,what was that test8 ,i asked1 at length1 seeing that a question would not disturb him4 ,what do you call it and what was it really for8 ,that1 he explained1 was the ,jung association word test4 ,doctor ,jung1 who developed it1 was1 ,i think1 a ,swiss4 ,you'll notice that on the words of little or no significance there was no hesitation1 and the second time practically no change1 either4 ,but when the significant words came out she took just a fraction of a second longer before she answered4 ,i find that her average reaction time for the innocuous words was somewhere about two-fifths of a second4 ,she answered very quickly4 ,but1 take her reply when ,i said the word 'bean4' ,it was nearly a second--to be exact1 four-fifths1 or twice her average on the words of no consequence4 ,don't you think that significant8 ,i nodded reluctantly4 ,y-yes4 ,i suppose she knows--something4 ,the same thing was the case1 he continued1 on such words as 'bull1' 'serpent1' and 'face1' all of which1 you recollect from her dreams1 were significant words4 ,even on the words which she did not change the second time there was frequently a marked hesitation4 ,thus1 on the word 'dream' the first time she hesitated a fraction of a second before answering ',lathrop1' whose name evidently was suggested to her by his treatment of her nervous troubles and asking her about her dreams4 ,but the second time there was no hesitation when she answered ',lathrop' to the word 'dream4' ,the same thing was true of other words which she did not change4 ,she hesitated the first time1 but not the second4 ,they were such groups as 'money-poor-poor1' 'friend-none-none1' 'bottle-stopper-stopper1' and 'glass-empty-empty4' ,what do you think it indicates8 ,i asked4 ,from some you can draw your own conclusions1 he replied4 ,they are perfectly evident4 ,she feels alone1 friendless1 and almost penniless4 ,as to the bean sequence1 ,i am inclined to think she knows much about the ,calabar bean--both before and after the use in this case4 ,perhaps even she knows of the drug from it4 ,but whether that knowledge is such that it has given her a first-hand direct acquaintance with the use of it--well1 that is another question4 ,so1 also1 she was guarded in her reply to the words 'bottle' and 'glass4' ,she remembered the belladonna bottle and eagerly seized on the innocuous word1 'stopper1' referring to the ground-glass stopper1 no doubt4 ,as to the glass1 or glasses1 found on ,wilford's desk1 which must have been in her mind1 because by the words ,i was planting and leading up to that1 she was equally guarded4 ,to reply 'empty1' could certainly not be construed as anything but innocuous1 she probably thought4 ,how about the changes8 ,i questioned4 ,do they show anything that is evidential8 ,craig considered a moment4 ,they are1 of course1 the most important of all1 those changes1 he replied1 taking the list and checking off the words at the third column4 ,she actually changed her answers seven times1 and there was hesitation each time1 both on the original answer and the change in this third column4 ,kennedy studied the list before him for some minutes4 ,let's run down this list1 he said1 finally4 ,take the first--'foot-shoe-shoe4' ,nothing there1 of course4 ,wasn't intended to be4 ,here--'dream-,lathrop-,lathrop4' ,we have already discussed that4 ,consciously1 she refuses to tell me anything in 'struggle-escape-escape' with reference to that dream of hers of her husband4 ',ship-ocean-ocean'--,i put that word in for camouflage and she seizes it eagerly1 falling over herself to answer in her best reaction time1 thus helping me to locate her hesitations4 ,now we come to the crucial word1 'bean4' ,she hesitated1 and in that moment of hesitation she probably reasoned something like this3 ',i must just get as far from the ,calabar bean which they tell me he has discovered as ,i can4' ,so she answered 'baked4' ,yet that did not satisfy her4 ,it wasn't definite enough4 ,any bean could be baked4 ,so to make it absolutely explicit she corrected that to 'white bean4' ,she knows1 all right4 ,i said nothing1 and ,kennedy resumed4 ',book' was also to disarm her and she quickly replied in both cases1 'newspaper4' ,but 'lion' was different4 ,i'll wager she thought first of ,doctor ,lathrop1 for she went right back to the dream and answered 'path'--then1 the second time1 perhaps before she knew it1 she answered 'beard'--which ,lathrop has--when in fact ,i'll bet that if we tried it over again the answer she would give to cover it up would be 'mane4' ',false-true-true' and 'voyage-,europe-,europe' need not be discussed4 ',money-poor-poor' we've already touched on and 'sad-myself-myself' falls into the same class--showing her despondency4 ,with 'quarrel-,vail-words' her mind shows all is still fresh in her recollection4 ,we know pretty well now what her inner feelings were toward him4 ,however1 quite naturally and stereotyped comes the next--'marry-,vail-,vail4' ,of course4 ,consciously she would never think of herself marrying any one else--until there is a new deal1 so to speak4 ,but now we come to the most significant parts of all--the 'bull' sequence4 ,the moment she heard that she hesitated1 realized that she must not hesitate1 and in a sort of mental panic answered the thing that came crowding into her mind1 the pursuit by the bull and its hot 'breath1' which1 you remember1 we have already discussed4 ,she must have regretted allowing herself to say it4 ,that was one reason why ,i wanted to try the test over4 ,sure enough1 the second time she corrected it to something quite innocent connected with the dream--'field4' ,whether she realized it or not1 it confirms what the ,freud analysis showed us4 ,then1 he went on1 quite enthusiastic over the progress of his association test1 ,i reassured her by the next words and did not expect to obtain anything--'sleep-dream-dream' and 'foolish-wise-wise4' ,the next brings us squarely back to the subject that interests me most in my study of her1 her real feelings toward ,shattuck4 ,i said 'despise4' ,at once1 instead of associating1 she sought the opposite--'love4' ,yet that seemed1 perhaps unconsciously1 a bit strong4 ,so she softened it next to 'like4' ,she did that for her own benefit4 ,she herself would never betray to the world her own emotions4 ,therefore 'like' was a better word to use than 'love4' ,she has been trying to make them synonymous--with poor success4 ,i nodded4 ,somehow ,i felt that in her heart of hearts ,honora had found love1 whether she admitted it to herself or not4 ,but ,i realized that even if she had1 she would be the last to betray it to the outside world if she could help it4 ',finger-hand-hand'--another of the off-guard words1 continued ,kennedy1 quickly4 ',friend-none-none'--we have touched on this idea already4 ,but now we come again to something very important--'serpent4' ,at once she answered 'hiss4' ,then she changed it and the thought uppermost was the recollection of the 'crowd' in her dream4 ,remember ,freud8--a crowd1 something secret8 ,the most important change of all1 though1 is the next--'face4' ,she knew that already ,i had questioned her on that point in the dream--the attributing of human faces to the animals that appeared to her in her dreams4 ,perhaps she recollected that she had told ,doctor ,lathrop once that the face in the dream resembled that of ,shattuck4 ,but she never would admit that to me4 ,i fenced about with her on that point1 both in the spoken and written dream1 without getting a bit of satisfaction from her4 ,she simply would not admit a thing4 ,yet ,i'm convinced that she told the truth first1 that the face was that of ,shattuck4 ,however1 with that still in her mind1 she hesitates in recalling the dream4 ,i'm sure her first thought was ',shattuck4' ,but she put that out of her mind in the fifths of a second that elapsed4 ,instead1 she answered just as quickly as she could1 in the hope she had betrayed nothing1 the colorless1 'man4' ,i said nothing4 ,i was always fearful of whither ,kennedy's psychanalysis was tending4 ,even the general 'man' was not explicit enough for her1 he proceeded4 ,she meant that there should be no mistake as far as ,i was concerned4 ',man' might include ,shattuck4 ,so1 on the second questioning she became more particular in her identification of the 'face4' ,this time it was 'stranger4' ,doubtless she felt that it would eliminate both herself and ,shattuck from consideration4 ,but she was mistaken1 he concluded1 triumphantly4 ,instead1 it really points to ,shattuck--and to herself1 too4 ,unconsciously now1 she is really trying to eliminate both herself and her lover--and she knows that he is that4 ,kennedy flipped the list1 as he added3 ',bottle-stopper-stopper' and 'glass-empty-empty4' ,an effort to get away from anything incriminating4 ,clever1 too4 ,i said nothing4 ,what did it mean8 ,was she1 after all1 guilty--or at least a party to the crime8 ,the very idea was repugnant to me4 ,i knew it was of no use to quiz ,craig4 ,he was still non-committal and impartial4 ,at least ,i hoped he was still impartial to her4 ,,xv ,,the ,,conflicting ,,clues ,it was early the following morning that ,doyle burst in on us1 very excited and waving a morning paper4 ,have you read the news8 he demanded1 slapping the paper down in front of ,kennedy4 ,we read at the point where ,doyle's forefinger indicated4 ,it was a personal inserted among the advertisements by ,doctor ,lathrop himself4 ,no longer1 it announced1 would he be responsible for the debts of ,vina ,lathrop1 his wife4 ,lathrop had at last definitely broken with her4 ,kennedy and ,i exchanged glances4 ,i recalled the quarrel we had interrupted on our last visit to them4 ,evidently that had been the climax4 ,nor was ,i surprised4 ,it had seemed inconceivable to me1 since my conversation with ,belle ,balcom1 that ever ,lathrop could be the kind of man to sit complacently under the growing gossip about ,vina4 ,how he had even waited so long was a mystery1 unless to assure himself that what he heard was the truth4 ,for men of ,lathrop's stamp are the last to condone anything in a wife1 no matter what may be their own standards for themselves4 ,well1 at any rate1 conjectured ,doyle1 rather heartlessly1 ,i thought1 ,i don't think people will waste a great deal of sympathy on her4 ,it leaves ,vina ,lathrop no more than she deserves4 ,the man she tried to use is dead4 ,the man she sought to capture has turned her down cold4 ,now the husband she had no use for1 except as a meal ticket1 has left her4 ,i can't see but what that dame had it all coming to her4 ,kennedy refrained from comment4 ,where has she gone8 he asked merely4 ,do you know8 ,doyle shook his head4 ,this is the first that ,i knew that they were separated1 he responded4 ,no1 ,i haven't any idea where she is4 ,what of ,doctor ,lathrop8 ,he seemed to have taken it very calmly4 ,from what ,i hear1 he hasn't even interrupted his practice4 ,he stays there at the ,drive address where he has his office4 ,i suppose she has gone to a hotel1 or perhaps out of town4 ,i'll find out for you and have her watched1 if you want4 ,kennedy nodded1 but did not say anything1 and ,i know ,doyle's attitude had not raised that gentleman any higher in ,craig's estimation4 ,it all seemed very strange1 and1 ,i felt sure1 however1 well worth following up4 ,of course1 you know we haven't neglected the ,wilford telephone wire1 put in ,doyle1 sensing that all was not just as it should be1 yet not knowing just why4 ,what did you do8 ,put in a tap4 ,then ,i had ,mc,cabe and others listening in in relays in another room4 ,yes8 ,here's a report of what they got this morning4 ,doyle pulled out a sheet of thin paper on which had been typed some notes4 ,there was a call early this morning for her1 he said1 as he ran his eye down the sheet4 ,it was from ,shattuck--without a doubt4 ,he's suspicious4 ,the first part of the conversation shows that1 you see4 ,let me read it1 if you don't mind8 asked ,kennedy4 ,not at all1 agreed1 ,doyle1 handing the copy to ,craig4 ,together we read it4 ,good morning1 it began4 ,is this you1 ,honora8 ,oh1 good morning1 she replied4 7,it was apparent that ,mrs4 ,wilford recognized the voice1 but she was cautious about repeating the name47 ,i've something very important to tell you--but--well1 not over the telephone4 ,is anybody listening8 ,i don't know4 ,i suppose there is4 ,everything ,i do is spied on and watched4 ,i can't write a letter4 ,i can't go out-- ,i suppose that's right4 ,if you went out you'd be followed4 ,there's no place that's safe4 ,probably somebody's getting an earful of this1 came back the other voice4 ,still1 ,i've something very important to say to you4 ,hang it6 ,i'm going to drop in and see you1 ,honora4 ,this isn't an autocracy--yet4 ,they can't prevent me talking to you in your own home4 ,though1 ,i suppose1 even that is an offense4 ,however1 ,i'll call4 ,keep a stiff upper lip4 ,don't let them put anything over on you4 ,mrs4 ,wilford must have tried to laugh it off1 for the operative had drawn a line indicating a laugh and had added merely the repetition of the words1 ,good-by4 ,doyle looked at our faces as we read4 ,i have a scheme1 he announced1 craftily4 ,see what you think of it4 ,there's that dictagraph ,i put in1 you know4 ,kennedy nodded4 ,although our opinion of ,doyle was not of the highest1 it was not impossible that here was a situation that called for no great amount of cleverness to surmount4 ,want to use it8 he asked4 ,kennedy considered4 ,i put the thing in right4 ,there's a receiver in every room1 and ,i've got a sort of central office there4 ,you can listen in on any room you please by just throwing a switch4 ,kennedy assumed a flattering manner4 ,just the thing1 ,doyle1 he acquiesced4 ,now look here4 ,this is the way to work it4 ,you go there first--not to the room1 but to the apartment4 ,stay around there a bit as though you were looking for something1 then leave and take care to make it certain that they know you are going away some distance and will be gone some time4 ,i get you1 agreed ,doyle4 ,then ,mc,cabe-- ,confound ,mc,cabe6 interrupted ,kennedy4 ,he must clear out1 too4 ,he's buzzing around that maid1 ,celeste4 ,well1 for once it may lead to something4 ,give ,mc,cabe something to do that will take him away1 too4 ,then tell him to let ,celeste know4 ,get it8 ,make it as plain as day to her that for once you are all off the job4 ,then she'll think it's safe--unless she's clever1 added ,kennedy4 ,meanwhile ,jameson and ,i will slip into that little listening post of yours4 ,maybe we'll get something4 ,you can't tell4 ,it sounds all right1 commented ,doyle1 loosening a key from a ring4 ,there's the key--it's ,apartment ,k where the dictagraph is4 ,all right1 remarked ,kennedy1 taking it4 ,now go along and get your end of the plant working4 ,do everything you can to let her believe that you've relaxed4 ,i'll get there in half an hour4 ,we can't put this off too long4 ,doyle left with alacrity4 ,for once he could understand ,kennedy's method and approve it4 ,half an hour later we entered the ,wilford apartment-house1 taking care to do so at a time when the elevator was not down at the ground floor4 ,as far as we knew1 no one interested had seen us come in4 ,that was the one chance we were forced to take4 ,its only disadvantage was that it made it necessary for us to walk up eight flights of stairs1 and even then to go carefully1 lest we meet some one in the hall4 ,however1 we found ,apartment ,k at last without any difficulty1 opened the door1 and admitted ourselves quietly4 ,doyle had located the dictagraph in this room1 two floors below the apartment of the ,wilfords'1 in this vacant suite4 ,as we entered1 ,i saw that in the room were merely a deal table and a couple of chairs4 ,on the table lay the box containing the receiving end of the dictagraph1 to which already were fitted the head and ear pieces for listening4 ,the switch on the table was marked1 showing the various rooms in which the transmitters had been placed and arranged so that one might follow from one room to another1 if necessary4 ,there was paper for notes on the table1 too1 but otherwise the room was bare4 ,kennedy adjusted the ear-pieces over his head1 much as a wireless operator might have done1 and1 noting how he did it1 ,i followed suit4 ,then we waited4 ,i could hear the clicks as he moved the switch past one connection after another1 trying out the various rooms to see whether there was any one in them or not4 ,there was no one in the living-room1 but as we listened we could hear the striking of a small clock on the mantel4 ,from room to room we went1 in imagination1 almost as if we had been there1 but able to go about unobserved4 ,had ,honora been clever enough to penetrate our ruse8 ,or had ,doyle and ,mc,cabe executed their end of the scheme clumsily8 ,we waited impatiently1 wondering whether1 after all1 it was a fools' errand for us4 ,suddenly ,i could hear a dull1 rhythmical noise above the mild buzzing of the dictagraph4 ,what's that8 ,i asked1 almost in a whisper1 which was involuntary4 ,footsteps of some one coming down the hall into the library1 replied ,kennedy4 ,i fancied from slight noises which ,i heard that ,honora was in there1 alone1 reading perhaps4 ,i thought ,i caught the rustle of paper4 ,i could now make out the vibrations more clearly1 then the low1 almost inaudible buzz of a voice4 ,now it's plainer1 ,i whispered4 ,kennedy frowned4 ,they can't hear you1 he reminded4 ,still--don't forget ,i can4 ,i took the broad hint and was silent4 ,kennedy adjusted the machine for loudness and gradually ,i could hear the lowered voices being caught and played up4 ,it was ,honora speaking to her maid1 ,celeste1 who had just entered4 ,you've been down in ,mrs4 ,smith's apartment8 we heard ,honora ask4 ,yes1 madame4 ,kennedy shot a glance at me4 ,two1 then1 could play at the same game of watching4 ,evidently the maid had evolved the scheme of visiting some friendly maid in the building1 and from that vantage-point watching the watchers4 ,i trusted that she had seen nothing of us4 ,it could hardly be that she had--or at least that they suspected the presence of the dictagraph1 or they would not have talked even in whispers1 when they might have written and thus have been safe from being overheard4 ,i was beginning to be relieved4 ,why did that ,mc,cabe tell you he had a day off8 asked ,honora1 thoughtfully4 ,did he really go8 ,yes1 madame4 ,and the other man hasn't come in4 ,mr4 ,doyle was here1 but he didn't stay long4 ,i heard him telephone for a taxicab to take him to the ,grand ,central4 ,he seemed to be catching a train and looked as if prepared to stay away overnight4 ,a train8 caught up ,honora1 eagerly4 ,very well1 ,celeste4 ,when ,mr4 ,shattuck comes1 let him in4 ,watch4 ,let me know if you see any one watching4 ,it--it seems--,i can't understand it4 ,the maid murmured something soothing in ,french to ,honora and departed4 ,for some time--it seemed an hour--we waited in silence4 ,finally ,kennedy reached over and touched my elbow4 ,again ,i could hear that low vibration1 as of some one walking4 ,it's ,shattuck--,i'll bet1 ,craig cried1 excitedly4 ,sure enough1 it was1 as we soon found out both by his voice and the conversation4 ,you've heard about ,vina and the doctor8 he asked1 almost as soon as he entered4 ,no1 replied ,honora4 ,what about them8 ,they've separated4 ,lathrop has put a notice in the papers that he will no longer be responsible for his wife's debts4 ,honora uttered a quick exclamation of surprise4 ,rather a nasty thing for the doctor to do1 though1 commented ,shattuck1 then added1 hastily1 ,i mean the way he did it--publicly1 in the papers1 and all that sort of thing4 ,i suppose so1 came reluctantly from ,honora's lips4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,it was very human1 after all4 ,nor could one blame ,honora for having scant sympathy with the woman who had caused her so much pain and anguish4 ,there was silence for several moments1 in which ,i trusted that ,shattuck was duly chastened for having expressed any sympathy for ,vina1 even in a casual way4 ,tell me1 ,vance1 she asked1 finally1 with just a trace of eagerness showing in her voice in spite of herself4 ,you never really cared for her--did you8 ,shattuck answered quickly4 ,why1 you poor foolish little girl--don't you understand yet8 ,it was she--set out to capture me--not ,i who sought her4 ,ask anybody4 ,they'll tell you4 ,i begin to believe everybody knows it--knew it long before even ,i saw it4 ,how ,lathrop could have missed it so long is beyond me4 ,don't you see8 ,it placed me in rather an awkward position4 ,i wanted to warn him--yet how could ,i8 ,of course ,i never cared for her4 ,the fact is that ,i have had to avoid her1 even when she tried to make some business deals through me4 ,why1 only yesterday ,lathrop came to see me4 ,it must have been just before he put that advertisement in the papers4 ,i had the very deuce of a time to make him see the case4 ,as luck would have it1 though1 ,kennedy was there4 ,i hope he got an eyeful4 ,once before he saw me with her4 ,it was when she was trying to sell some stock4 ,honora said nothing1 though apparently the explanation was just what she wanted to hear and it satisfied her4 ,i looked over at ,craig4 ,if it was true1 ,i felt that it was greatly to the credit of ,shattuck1 knowing his reputation4 ,but was it true8 ,was it not what he would have said to ,honora1 anyway8 ,might it not be that he was laying the foundations for an alibi in case ,kennedy or some one else retailed stories to her8 ,are they still just as insolent up here to you8 he asked1 solicitously1 after another silence1 changing the subject to one more intimate4 ,oh1 ,vance1 it's awful6 she confessed4 ,the deuce6 he exclaimed1 hotly4 ,sometimes ,i feel as though ,i could fight the whole crowd of them1 ,kennedy included4 ,it's an outrage1 this constant suspicion of you4 ,but1 ,vance1 she murmured1 you know you must be careful for yourself1 too4 ,and you1 ,honora8 he replied4 ,have you no need of help1 no need of a friend8 ,it was evident that each feared for the other1 recognizing the suspicion under which both labored4 ,more than that1 there was genuine regard between them1 it was evident1 tempered with restraint4 ,i suppose you've heard that they've found a ,calabar bean down in ,vail's office1 on the floor8 asked ,shattuck1 hesitating1 but finally coming to a remark which evidently had been on his mind and cost him something to make4 ,i was all ears1 in hope that he would betray something about having some of the beans in his own possession1 or that ,honora would betray something about having ,chase search ,shattuck's apartment1 if1 indeed1 she had ordered the young detective to do it4 ,but neither of them said a word4 ,was it because they knew nothing1 or was there a tacit understanding between them never to mention some mutual secret8 ,so ,i've been told1 was the simple reply ,honora made to ,shattuck's inquiry4 ,who told you8 ,mr4 ,doyle1 himself1 she replied4 ,has ,kennedy done anything8 he asked1 quickly4 ,i had another visit from him yesterday4 ,what did he want this time8 ,he had a list of words--more of his science4 ,i can't refuse to do what he asks--and yet--,i'm afraid4 ,you know these scientists know so many things that aren't so about women4 ,kennedy nodded over at me4 ,i knew what was passing in his mind4 ,it was surely strange to hear oneself discussed and ,i recalled the old adage about eavesdroppers hearing nothing good of themselves4 ,besides1 ,i knew that his ,freud theory had struck home4 ,honora's very anger at the theory was proof enough that it struck home in one of her own complexes4 ,confound him6 muttered ,shattuck4 ,i suppose you are right1 though4 ,you know this ordeal bean from the ,calabar8 ,of course you remember the derivative from your father's place--the physostigmine4 ,well1 the beans are used in a queer1 primitive sort of dueling by the natives4 ,they cut the beans in half4 ,each eats a half4 ,it is a sort of a duel by ordeal4 ,yes1 she answered1 quickly4 ,so ,i've been told4 ,kennedy nodded to me4 ,neither of them said more about it4 ,was it because they recognized it as a dangerous subject8 ,or had ,honora really discovered the dictagraph in her own home8 ,in that case1 this very conversation was being held for our benefit1 out of sheer bravado4 ,nothing more of importance was said and we figuratively followed them out into the hall and over a good-by that was considerably lengthened by ,shattuck and threatened to become sentimental4 ,only ,honora restrained it4 ,what next8 ,i asked1 as we could hear the slam of the door in the ,wilford apartment4 ,i don't think ,i shall stay and listen here1 concluded ,kennedy4 ,i can't see that we've found out a great deal1 as it is4 ,there are several things that must be done immediately4 ,first of all1 ,i want to see ,lathrop4 ,it may be that we'll find out something from him4 ,we made our way out of the apartment1 as we had entered1 trusting that with our care we would not be observed4 ,a few minutes later we were at the door of the waiting-room of ,lathrop's office4 ,evidently he doesn't take the affair any too deeply1 commented ,craig4 ,i looked about4 ,the office was as full of patients as ever1 and he was going about his professional work much as though nothing at all had occurred to disturb his peace of mind4 ,we waited until the last patient had gone and finally were able to see him alone4 ,i can guess what you are here for1 he greeted1 without a trace of embarrassment4 ,i suppose the afternoon papers will be full of it4 ,already ,i've had a string of reporters--one from your own paper1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 he added1 significantly--a ,miss ,balcom4 ,do you know her8 ,yes1 ,i answered1 as offhand as possible1 she is a very clever writer4 ,did you--er--tell her any-- ,not a word to say1 he interrupted1 bruskly1 not a word to say4 ,i refused to make any statement4 ,what's the use8 ,the fact stands for itself4 ,in spite of what he said1 it was evident that he would talk1 at least a bit4 ,then you knew all about--what was going on1 all along8 inquired ,kennedy4 ,i had my suspicions1 the doctor replied1 airily4 ,i cannot afford to be held up to ridicule4 ,it was a matter of saving my very career4 ,as for the ,wilford story--pouf6 ,i don't care a rap about it--that is1 ,i didn't until the gossips added the ,shattuck scandal to it4 ,whatever he might say1 it was evident that his lips belied his real feelings4 ,he was really bitter both toward the memory of ,wilford and toward ,shattuck as well1 conceal it as much as he might try4 ,then you credit the ,shattuck rumors8 demanded ,kennedy4 ,i won't say1 snapped the doctor1 testily4 ,where has ,mrs4 ,lathrop gone8 asked ,kennedy1 point-blank4 ,how do ,i know8 bridled ,lathrop4 ,i've heard her talk about friends at the ,sainte-,germaine--perhaps you might find her there4 ,you're a detective1 he added1 coolly1 then suddenly3 ,that's right4 ,get her side of the story4 ,play it up1 if you like4 ,you might as well4 ,yes1 by all means4 ,then perhaps ,i can set you right on some points4 ,don't mind me4 ,good morning1 gentlemen1 he bustled1 taking up his black doctor's bag4 ,i have a very serious case waiting for me4 ,kennedy did not comment as we left1 but beckoned quickly to a vacant taxicab and we were whisked to the ,sainte-,germaine4 ,i knew it was of no use to try to see ,mrs4 ,lathrop in the ordinary manner1 and1 therefore1 adopted one of my many newspaper ruses to find out where her room was and then to get to it4 ,as she opened the door to what seemed to be an innocent knock from a chambermaid or bell-hop1 she exclaimed in surprise at seeing ,kennedy and myself4 ,almost1 ,i exclaimed also4 ,vina ,lathrop seemed to be a changed woman4 ,why have you followed me here8 she demanded4 ,did he send you--or was it that woman8 ,neither1 returned ,kennedy4 ,it's not so easy to hide away in ,new ,york4 ,she did not move from the door1 nor did she invite us in4 ,still1 ,i could see that she was there alone1 that the friends whom ,lathrop had hinted at were either mythical or that she had not gone to them4 ,i thought that perhaps you might like to tell us what the real reason for the break was1 hinted ,kennedy4 ,of course1 ,mrs4 ,lathrop1 there's no use for me to beat about the bush4 ,you know and we know just what the world is saying4 ,if ,i might be of any assistance to you--putting things straight1 you know-- ,he paused1 endeavoring to see whether she showed any disposition to talk4 ,for a moment she was silent1 biting her lips4 ,i never want to speak to him again1 she burst out1 passionately1 at length4 ,you will have to see ,doctor ,lathrop about that--at present1 she added1 sullenly4 ,does ,mr4 ,shattuck know where you are8 ,i suppose every one will know--now1 she cried1 a look almost of alarm crossing her now pale face4 ,really--,i have nothing to say4 ,you must see my--my lawyer4 ,and he is--8 ,i shall let that be known--when ,i get ready1 she blazed1 turning4 ,now1 might ,i ask you to leave me8 ,i don't see how you got past the floor clerk1 anyhow4 ,good-by4 ,i--,i don't want to have a scene4 ,she closed the door and we heard the bolt shoot4 ,somehow ,i could not help having my suspicions aroused by her very manner1 as we turned away4 ,did she know something--and was she really afraid of us8 ,,xvi ,,the ,,finesse ,what's the next move8 ,i inquired of ,kennedy as we entered the elevator4 ,he did not answer1 and ,i thought it was because he did not care to do so4 ,didn't like to talk1 even though we were alone with the elevator boy1 he explained1 with his usual caution1 when we had arrived at the ground floor4 ,you never can tell who is listening in public places4 ,no1 ,i answered1 dryly4 ,that was how ,i found out where she was in the first place4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,very good1 ,walter4 ,still1 it just goes to prove what ,i said4 ,mrs4 ,lathrop might do the same thing to find out about us4 ,we sauntered along a few steps through the lobby in silence4 ,i don't suppose ,shattuck will be in his own apartment after that talk with ,honora1 ,kennedy considered1 glancing at his watch4 ,guess we'd better try to see him at his office1 if we want to see him anywhere4 ,i saw what he was thinking about--the relations of ,vina and ,shattuck and the construction that ,doctor ,lathrop had put on them4 ,the finding of that ,calabar bean in ,shattuck's apartment has puzzled me1 ,i confessed4 ,i've often wondered whether he ever missed it1 whether he knows4 ,just what ,i was thinking about1 admitted ,kennedy4 ,on the way down-town ,i'm going to drop in and see ,mrs4 ,wilford's detective1 ,chase4 ,why1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 you've beaten me to it--and have you got the story8 ,i turned in surprise at hearing my name spoken by a woman whom ,i hadn't noticed4 ,it was ,belle ,balcom1 always enterprising and on the alert for a good story for her column of society gossip4 ,i thought ,i had a scoop1 she pouted4 ,and ,i get here only to see you coming out4 ,where did you find out8 ,i asked1 in surprise1 careful1 however1 not to admit that ,i knew what she meant1 although ,i was certain that it must be to see ,mrs4 ,lathrop that she had come4 ,never mind1 ,belle tantalized4 ,where did you find out8 ,that would be telling1 ,i begged the question1 turning and introducing ,craig4 ,oh1 ,i'm so glad to meet you1 she smiled4 ,of course ,i've heard a great deal about you from ,mr4 ,jameson and ,i've always admired your wonderful work4 ,indeed you've helped us a great deal in this case1 yourself1 returned ,craig1 ignoring the flattery1 as he always did4 ,i'm so glad1 thanked ,belle1 sincerely4 ,if there's anything ,i can do1 ever1 ,i hope you'll ask me4 ,it isn't often that ,i feel that the stuff ,i do has any real importance4 ,more often people think ,i'm a prying pest1 ,i imagine4 ,but then without that eternal curiosity1 who could write8 ,isn't that so8 she appealed to me4 ,quite1 ,i agreed4 ,especially in a woman1 thrust ,belle4 ,i'm sure that can't be so1 remarked ,craig4 ,reporters and detectives have much in common4 ,women make good in both fields--very good4 ,belle smiled4 ,sophisticated she might be4 ,yet no woman can be said exactly to hate flattery of the right sort4 ,how does ,mrs4 ,lathrop take the affair--with bravado8 inquired ,belle4 ,you see1 that expedition down to ,greenwich ,village with ,mr4 ,jameson has made me look on this case with a sort of proprietary interest4 ,kennedy smiled seriously4 ,there1 now1 he nodded1 you're interviewing me4 ,belle smiled back in turn1 taking the hint4 ,i'm sure you'd be hard to interview1 if you didn't want to be interviewed1 ,professor ,kennedy1 she said4 ,how did you find out where she had gone--really8 ,i asked4 ,tell us4 ,it might help--and you remember what you said just a moment ago4 ,belle considered an instant4 ,well1 she thought1 ,i don't know as it would be violating any confidence1 after all4 ,kennedy1 always thoughtful1 had gradually edged our way into a sort of alcove4 ,you see1 she began1 first ,i tried to get at ,doctor ,lathrop himself4 ,but ,i guess you must have been there first4 ,he was barricaded1 so to speak4 ,i posed as a patient1 tried to think up all kinds of ailments ,i could1 just to get in4 ,but he had an assistant who interviewed every patient4 ,i think that fellow would make a medical detective4 ,i thought ,i was clever1 but he found me out and ,i was politely requested to step outside4 ,i glanced at ,kennedy4 ,evidently ,lathrop did not intend to talk4 ,was it wholly natural reticence8 ,then1 resumed ,belle to me1 ,i thought of our friend1 ,zona ,dare4 ,i remembered that she had been intimate with ,vina ,lathrop4 ,zona wouldn't say anything4 ,but ,i didn't need that4 ,from her ,i got the cue4 ,i knew she was keeping something from me1 just knew it--woman's intuition1 ,i guess4 ,i knew that ,zona lived here at the ,sainte-,germaine4 ,but ,mrs4 ,lathrop is alone1 ,i hastened4 ,surely4 ,you wouldn't see them together4 ,trust ,zona4 ,she's too clever for that4 ,again ,i glanced at ,kennedy without getting anything from the expression of his face4 ,was it a clue8 ,did it mean anything1 this immediate appeal by ,vina for help from the ,freudian interpreter of the ,village8 ,we chatted a few minutes longer1 as ,kennedy turned away further inquisitorial shafts of the clever reporter4 ,however1 somehow ,i felt that ,belle still had something on her mind4 ,then you aren't going to write it1 after all8 she asked1 eagerly1 of me1 as ,kennedy showed signs of leaving4 ,of course not1 ,i assured4 ,it wouldn't look right--at this stage of the case--for me to write1 do you think8 ,however1 that's no reason why ,the ,star shouldn't have the story4 ,she beamed4 ,very well1 then4 ,i'll try to get it1 she replied1 rather relieved at the thought that whatever clever work she had done to get the tip that had located ,vina would not go for naught and would be credited to her4 ,we bowed ourselves away1 leaving ,belle the difficult and unenviable job of getting at ,mrs4 ,lathrop again1 something ,i should not have wanted to do1 judging by the fiery glance that had been shot at us from behind the slammed door4 ,that will be a last straw to ,vina ,lathrop--when she knows the newspapers have found her out here1 ,i remarked1 as we turned toward the street entrance4 ,kennedy drew me back and we sidled into the protection of the fronds of a thick clump of palms4 ,i looked out cautiously4 ,there was ,doyle just coming up the steps of the hotel4 ,doyle bustled in1 and we let him pass1 unaccosted4 ,where did he get his information8 ,i wondered4 ,not so difficult4 ,if the police drag-net is out1 a hotel like the ,sainte-,germaine isn't at all safe1 replied ,craig4 ,i imagine we can leave ,vina to their tender mercies--the police and the press4 ,we left the hotel hurriedly lest we might encounter any one else1 and a few minutes later found ourselves again at ,chase's detective agency4 ,chase was in and regarded us inquiringly as we entered4 ,about this ,lathrop case1 introduced ,kennedy4 ,you know that she was very intimate with ,mr4 ,shattuck4 ,chase nodded4 ,it occurred to me1 went on ,kennedy1 that since you were working for ,mrs4 ,wilford you might be able to help me4 ,there were several things you told me the other day that ,i've been thinking about4 ,chase narrowed his eyes as if trying to fathom what ,kennedy was thinking4 ,i admit breaking into ,shattuck's apartment1 he said4 ,do you mean that8 ,partly4 ,why did you do it8 ,it was to get some letters ,mrs4 ,lathrop had written to him1 returned ,chase1 without quizzing4 ,did you get them8 ,i did4 ,where are they8 ,chase balked4 ,did you read them8 ,yes1 he answered1 reluctantly4 ,what was in them8 ,shattuck had been pursuing ,mrs4 ,lathrop1 hadn't he8 fenced ,kennedy1 keenly4 ,no--he had not4 ,she had been pursuing him1 snapped ,chase1 though why he was so evidently put out about it ,i could not make out at first4 ,how about that ,calabar bean8 ,i found it in a cabinet1 while ,i was searching for the letters1 he answered1 his face betraying no expression4 ,why did you tell me that in the first place8 demanded ,kennedy1 suddenly switching the subject4 ,did you have any motive8 ,motive8 ,i thought you ought to know--that's all4 ,he's not my client1 you know4 ,but he's a friend of your client and-- ,say1 ,kennedy1 ,i know how ,doyle has been hounding that poor little woman4 ,if you want the truth1 ,i didn't tell ,doyle because it wouldn't do any good4 ,i thought you could be fair4 ,well1 what's your opinion8 ,i haven't any opinion4 ,i know what ,i found4 ,it's for you to have an opinion4 ,besides1 ,i won't sacrifice a client for a friend of the client4 ,get me8 he asked1 pointedly4 ,she has won you1 hasn't she8 asked ,kennedy1 somewhat1 ,i thought1 in ,doyle's style4 ,chase looked at him a minute4 ,say1 ,kennedy1 he returned1 ,i've always regarded you as something more than the rest of us4 ,he stopped as though he would have said more1 but considered he had said enough4 ,what he meant by his cryptic remarks ,i could not make out4 ,was he determined to save his client1 even at the cost of her lover8 ,kennedy's face was inscrutable4 ,if he knew what ,chase meant1 ,i am sure ,chase read no answer4 ,we left immediately afterward and soon were back again in the ,subway4 ,as we waited for the train1 ,kennedy paced the platform4 ,i think ,i'm right1 ,walter1 he remarked4 ,the thing is to prove it4 ,i'm going to use a little more of ,freud--to apply him to some detective work--in other words1 ,i'm going to play upon suppressed desires4 ,just watch how it works4 ,somewhat less than half an hour later we found ourselves in the hurly-burly of the ,wall ,street district4 ,shattuck1 ,i knew1 had an office around the corner not very far from that which ,vail ,wilford had occupied4 ,kennedy1 who had been there before1 easily located it and called the floor from memory4 ,it's not a large office1 ,i remarked1 as ,i followed ,craig down the hall and stopped before a single glass door that bore ,shattuck's name1 adding1 ,banker ,broker4 ,but probably it's large enough for all the brokerage business that ,shattuck really does1 he returned4 ,i have an idea that it is just about enough to keep him from being classed as an idler4 ,besides1 it gives him standing4 ,kennedy handed his card to the boy who presided over a sort of swinging gate in the outer office4 ,the door to ,shattuck's inner office happened to be open and we could see him4 ,consequently it was not possible for him to send out word that he was not in4 ,it was a rather nettled office-boy who returned to us4 ,for what1 may ,i ask1 am ,i indebted to you for this visit8 inquired ,shattuck with almost insulting bruskness as the boy stood at the door1 admitting us1 then carefully closed the door to the outer office4 ,i felt angry at the tone1 but ,kennedy kept his temper admirably4 ,i suppose1 began ,craig1 clearing his throat and speaking as deliberately as ever ,shattuck did1 that you know the story about ,mrs4 ,lathrop8 ,some one on the street called my attention to it1 ,shattuck prevaricated1 rather than admit interest4 ,i thought you might be in a position to explain it--at least to throw some light on it1 pursued ,kennedy1 directly4 ,i'm quite interested1 naturally4 ,explain it8 flared ,shattuck1 eagerly seizing on something that would divert the main issue4 ,explain it8 ,why1 you and ,doyle and the newspapers--nodding insultingly at me--ought to be able to do that best1 don't you think8 ,it's you all that have caused a great deal of trouble4 ,judging by what ,i read and hear1 you know more about our affairs in this case than we do ourselves4 ,i'd suggest that perhaps our positions should be reversed4 ,i might appeal to you for information1 rather than have you coming around here appealing to me4 ,not only was it what he said1 but it was even more the tone and manner in which he said it that seemed to rub ,kennedy the wrong way4 ,as for myself1 ,i must confess that ,i was boiling over at the bravado of the man4 ,i would have come back with a quick remark--and probably have exposed my hand and done exactly what ,shattuck expected1 for there was no denying that he was clever with a gambler's cleverness and nerve4 ,it was not so with ,kennedy4 ,for a moment he paused1 as though checking a first remark2 then he spoke in the same measured and considered tones as at the start4 ,i can tell you1 ,shattuck1 that ,i don't like the attitude either you or ,mrs4 ,wilford assume4 ,shattuck merely shrugged superciliously1 and would have turned to some papers on his desk1 had not ,kennedy possessed one of those compelling personalities that demand that you hear them out1 whether you like it or not4 ,mrs4 ,wilford seems to have assumed a sort of passive attitude toward me1 ,kennedy resumed4 ,you don't expect her to help you8 inquired ,shattuck4 ,as for yourself1 continued ,craig1 unperturbed1 ,i am frankly of the opinion1 ,shattuck1 that your attitude is quite one of open hostility4 ,i would not presume to dictate to either of you how you should order your conduct--but--it seems to me that1 under the circumstances1 it might not be unwise to take care not to prejudice your cases1 you know4 ,shattuck involuntarily shot a quick glance from under his heavy eyebrows at ,kennedy4 ,but not even ,shattuck's cleverness could read anything in ,craig's face4 ,what is it that this man knows8 ,quite apparently that was the sudden thought working back of ,shattuck's beetling brows4 ,for instance1 continued ,kennedy1 as though determined to have his way in the matter and ram the words down ,shattuck's throat1 ,i am sure you know of that ,calabar bean which ,i--or rather ,mr4 ,jameson--discovered in ,mr4 ,wilford's office--not very far away from here1 ,i see4 ,shattuck's face was a study4 ,not once did the man lose his poise4 ,it was not that4 ,well1 it raises some interesting problems4 ,i won't say that ,i haven't settled them4 ,but1 for the sake of argument1 let us take the circumstance--just in itself4 ,shattuck calmly lighted a cigarette and deliberately inhaled it1 bored4 ,of course1 ,craig went on1 after a pause1 we all know that ,doctor ,lathrop is a doctor and hence likely to dabble in almost anything relating to his profession4 ,perhaps he knew of the existence and the properties of the ,calabar bean4 ,quite certainly1 ,i should say4 ,no doubt he has used the drug--physostigmine4 ,in fact1 he tells me he has4 ,very well1 then4 ,so much for that4 ,take yourself1 for example4 ,i think ,i recall seeing many ,african trophies in that very cozy den of yours4 ,now1 the ,calabar bean is well known in ,africa1 not only in the ,calabar1 on the west coast1 but in many other parts of the continent that travelers and tourists visit4 ,so1 you see1 although at first sight such a bean might seem to have very little to do with a prosperous broker on ,broad ,street1 it is not impossible that a judge or jury--or a detective--might see a connection4 ,kennedy paused to watch the effect of the home thrust4 ,i cannot say that ,shattuck even winced4 ,he was a man with too much control over himself for that4 ,i longed for some of the psychological laboratory instruments that will reveal1 often1 what a nerve-strong exterior hides4 ,but1 quite more important still1 continued ,kennedy1 is the fact that the bean1 or rather its derivative1 physostigmine--which we know was the poison that killed ,wilford--is known and used by oculists for its curious effect on the pupils4 ,now1 from what ,i have learned on unimpeachable authority about ,mrs4 ,wilford as a girl1 her father1 ,honore ,chappelle1 a ,frenchman1 was a well-known oculist4 ,he had no sons and often used to wish that his only child had not been a girl4 ,for a time he had some vague idea1 ,i believe1 that his daughter might take up his place in the business4 ,however1 that was merely fanciful4 ,as ,honora grew to womanhood and tasted the advantages of the not small fortune her father had piled up1 the social life appealed to her4 ,and yet1 in the girlhood days1 who shall say she did not learn something of the ,calabar bean1 of the drug1 and of its properties8 ,it would be most unlikely if she did not4 ,kennedy paused for a moment1 leaving ,shattuck almost speechless and hiding a secret fear4 ,you can draw your own conclusions from what ,i have just said1 finished ,craig4 ,sometimes1 you know1 actions speak louder than words4 ,shattuck had risen1 almost angrily as two red spots of passion appeared on his face over the cheek-bones4 ,don't you think you have done enough1 hounding ,mrs4 ,wilford with your confounded science8 he demanded4 ,i cannot say1 replied ,kennedy1 coolly1 reaching for his hat and deliberately turning away4 ,i am telling you this only for your own benefit4 ,good morning1 sir4 ,just what ,kennedy was attempting ,i began to understand as we closed the door to the hall and turned again to the elevator4 ,the seeking out of ,shattuck was quite in keeping with the plan of campaign ,craig had mapped out at the start4 ,i saw that he was counting on planting something that would make ,shattuck fear for ,honora1 if not for himself4 ,and1 it was evident that behind his bravado ,shattuck did have a fear for ,honora4 ,,xvii ,,the ,,suppressed ,,desire ,even before ,kennedy announced where he was going1 ,i outguessed the next step in his scheme4 ,he would end by planting something that would make ,honora fearful for ,shattuck1 as well as for herself4 ,the effect would be to bring to light her suppressed desires1 to make the ,freudian theory play detective for us4 ,and then8 ,almost anything might happen4 ,looked at in this light1 ,i could see that ,craig would have done a very profitable day's work4 ,it was1 in short1 merely playing one against the other--first ,lathrop against ,vina2 now ,honora against ,shattuck4 ,we rode back again up-town and prepared to make our daily excuse for visiting ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,in spite of the distastefulness of our duty1 ,i felt sure that still our position with her was superior to that of the other inquisitors who were always on her trail4 ,before we go in1 cautioned ,kennedy1 as we entered the main entrance to the apartment1 ,i want to see ,mc,cabe4 ,he must be back on the job by this time4 ,careful to cover ourselves1 we sought out the ostensibly empty apartment which ,doyle had hired as a dictagraph room4 ,mc,cabe was there and seemed to be glad to see us4 ,evidently he had some news to report4 ,what's on your mind1 ,mc,cabe8 greeted ,kennedy4 ,why1 sir1 he's been calling her up again4 ,who8 ,mr4 ,shattuck1 ,i mean4 ,kennedy merely glanced at me4 ,the virus had begun to work4 ,what did he say8 asked ,kennedy1 quickly4 ,i couldn't just make out what it was about4 ,he wasn't very definite4 ,said he wanted to see her alone4 ,and ,mrs4 ,wilford8 ,said she couldn't--that she was afraid--afraid for him1 she said4 ,i guess she knows pretty well how we're watching her4 ,what did ,shattuck say to that8 ,well1 ,i should say he was trying to warn her1 replied ,mc,cabe1 without coming out too definitely4 ,you see1 they were both pretty careful in the words they used4 ,there's something strange between that pair1 you can be sure of that4 ,what were the exact words8 asked ,kennedy4 ,did you get them down8 ,mc,cabe nodded and referred to his notes4 ,when ,mr4 ,shattuck called up1 he asked her first1 ',i suppose they're watching you yet1 ,honora8' ',oh1 ,vance1' she answered1 'it gets worse every day4' ,there's some more--and then he suddenly said1 ',honora1 ,kennedy has just been here to see me again4' ,she seemed to be rather alarmed at that news4 ',to see you again1 ,vance8 ,what about8' ',i don't know what he's up to1' ,shattuck replied4 ',i wish ,i did4 ,it's something about that poisoned bean--you know1 the thing they've been talking about4' ,pretending ignorance6 ,i exclaimed4 ,he knows4 ,go on4 ,they talked about that a little while1 without saying anything important4 ,the next was ,honora3 ',he keeps asking me all sorts of questions about dreams and trying psychological experiments4 ,i don't dare refuse to answer4 ,but what do you suppose it is all about1 ,vance8' ,what did ,shattuck tell her8 asked ,kennedy1 interested4 ,here1 ,i'll read it1 exactly4 ',more of that ,freud stuff1 ,i guess1 ,honora1 from what you've already told me4 ,that may go all very well in a book--or in ,greenwich ,village4 ,but it's a fake1 ,i tell you4 ,don't believe it--too much4' ,that's a remarkably reassuring statement1 commented ,kennedy4 ,don't believe it--and then he takes it all back by adding1 'too much4' ,yes1 sir1 agreed ,mc,cabe1 to whom this angle of the case was a mystery4 ,i don't know as he believed what he said himself4 ,you see1 he next asked her3 ',can't you see me8 ,i must try to help you4' ,and he meant it1 too4 ,did she say she would8 hastened ,kennedy4 ,not directly4 ',vance1 ,i'm so afraid--afraid to drag you into this thing4 ,you know they're watching me so closely4 ,i don't see them around--yet they seem to know so much4' ,you don't suppose she suspects anything of this8 ,i interrupted1 indicating the dictagraph and the tapped telephone4 ,hardly1 answered ,mc,cabe4 ,she wouldn't talk at all over the wire1 if she did1 would she8 ,here's how it ended4 ,shattuck said1 finally1 ',well1 ,i'm going to see you very soon1 anyhow1 to have a heart-to-heart talk1 ,honora4' ,he seemed to be quite worried4 ,and so did she over him4 ,have you told ,doyle anything about it8 asked ,craig4 ,haven't had a chance yet4 ,it just happened4 ,kennedy turned to go4 ,oh1 just before that that detective called her up1 too4 ,which one--,rascon or ,chase8 ,chase4 ,kennedy smiled quietly4 ,everything was working4 ,what of him8 ,he said you had been to see him4 ,there was something about that poisonous bean he told her4 ,did he mention ,shattuck's name8 asked ,kennedy4 ,yes1 he questioned her about ,shattuck--about his travels--,i thought it was pretty broadly hinting after he mentioned that ,calabar bean4 ,but did he say anything definite about it8 ,i mean1 anything connecting it with ,shattuck8 ,no--nothing definite4 ,evidently ,chase had never told ,honora of his discovery in ,shattuck's apartments4 ,why8 ,was it because he was sure that she would not believe it8 ,was he waiting for more conclusive evidence8 ,what was the reason8 ,it had not been revealed even yet4 ,we thanked ,mc,cabe1 made our exit1 and arrived on ,honora's floor in such a way that it would not be suspected that we had been anywhere else in the building4 ,as we met ,mrs4 ,wilford1 ,i cannot say that we were quite as welcome as on some previous encounters with her4 ,it seemed that she was repressing her excitement not quite as easily as on previous occasions4 ,yet she seemed not to dare to refuse to see us4 ,perhaps1 too1 there was an element of curiosity to know whether anything had been discovered beyond what ,doyle had already told her4 ,if that were the case1 she had not long to wait4 ,kennedy did not plan this time to keep her in suspense long4 ,in fact1 it seemed as if it were part of his plan to fire the information he wished to impart as a broadside and watch the effect1 both immediate and ultimate4 ,i suppose you have read in the newspapers about the troubles of the ,lathrops and what has happened8 he opened fire4 ,nothing about that woman interests me1 ,honora returned1 coldly4 ,that's not exactly what ,i came to tell you1 though1 remarked ,kennedy1 briskly4 ,honora was on the alert in an instant1 although she tried to hide it4 ,i've discovered just what it was that caused the death of your husband1 hastened ,craig4 ,i watched her closely4 ,she was trying to show just enough and not too much interest4 ,indeed8 she replied1 veiling her eyes as a matter of self-defense4 ,was it belladonna8 ,no1 it was not atropin1 returned ,craig1 giving the drug its more scientific name4 ,it was physostigmine4 ,i was watching her narrowly4 ,evidently she had been expecting some repetition of the psychological tests and ,kennedy's more direct attack almost swept away a defense as she tried to adjust herself to the unexpected4 ,before she could recover from the shock that the bald statement seemed to give her1 ,craig shot out1 ,has ,doyle told you8 ,yes1 she replied1 endeavoring to remain calm and at the same time appear frank1 something about a bean which either you or ,mr4 ,jameson discovered down in the office4 ,then why did you mention belladonna8 asked ,craig4 ,she avoided his gaze as she answered1 quickly1 ,because it was the first thing that the police mentioned--the first thing that came into my head--like some of your psychological tests1 ,i suppose4 ,the last sentence was uttered with a sort of sarcastic defiance which ,i did not relish in ,honora4 ,so1 she continued in the same defiant tone1 it's another poison1 this time--this physostigmine8 ,yes1 reiterated ,kennedy1 quietly4 ,the ,calabar bean4 ,i suppose ,doyle described it to you--its devilish uses in the ,calabar--the way the natives use it in ordeals--and all that sort of thing8 ,yes--briefly1 she replied1 evidently steeling herself into a nonchalance she did not feel4 ,of course1 the drug has a certain medical importance1 too1 continued ,craig1 as though eager to hammer home the information about it which he wished to have stick in her mind4 ,it is physostigmine4 ,honora was evidently about to ask some question about the drug1 perhaps such a question as would have portrayed ignorance1 but ,kennedy caught her eye and she closed her parted lips4 ,there was no use camouflaging before this man4 ,she knew it--knew the drug1 ,i decided1 and knew he knew she knew of it4 ,but it wasn't the drug1 physostigmine1 in this case1 went on ,kennedy4 ,it was the ,calabar bean itself4 ,i found traces of it in ,mr4 ,wilford's stomach--starch grains from the beans themselves4 ,you know you can recognize various starch grains under the microscope by their size1 formation1 and so forth4 ,i've clearly demonstrated that4 ,you did8 ,why--,i--,i--er--thought that was ,doctor ,leslie's work4 ,evidently she did not realize that ,kennedy was anything more than a dilettante scientist1 dabbling with his psychological tests4 ,kennedy was now coming into the open more and more with her and she could not place him4 ,on her part she saw that she must be more and more on guard1 yet with fewer weapons on which to rely4 ,oh no1 returned ,kennedy1 easily4 ,i mix up in all sorts of queer investigations4 ,toxicology is a hobby with me4 ,doctor ,leslie did indeed confirm my results1 working independently4 ,he paused to let her get the full significance4 ,but about these beans4 ,they come from ,africa1 you know4 ,travelers1 people who have hunted over ,africa1 often bring them back as curios4 ,honora shot a covert glance at ,craig4 ,did she know that ,shattuck had possessed some1 after all8 ,i saw at once the trend of ,kennedy's remarks4 ,there was quite enough in what he had said to arouse in her the fear that ,shattuck was suspected by him4 ,and1 as ,i studied ,honora even more closely1 ,i could see now that she was making a great effort to conceal her anxiety4 ,if the anxiety concerned solely herself1 ,i could have understood it better1 perhaps4 ,but was it about herself8 ,would she have acted in just this manner if it had been that she believed ,kennedy to be making a direct accusation against her8 ,i could not decide4 ,but1 as ,i thought of it1 ,i saw how cleverly ,kennedy was leading his trumps4 ,if she were consumed with anxiety for ,shattuck1 the traveler in ,africa1 she must be heroically suppressing her own real feelings toward him1 as she had done for so long4 ,i felt sure that the added pressure1 day by day1 was having its effect on her4 ,i suppose you know1 pursued ,kennedy1 deliberately1 without letting up on the pressure1 that traces of belladonna were found in one glass on ,mr4 ,wilford's desk at the office and that an almost empty bottle of belladonna was found by the police here in your apartment8 ,it was mine1 she asserted1 calmly1 as though prepared4 ,it had been nearly used up4 ,celeste knows all about how ,i used it for my eyes4 ,many women do4 ,she can tell you that4 ,she said it boldly1 and yet1 since ,kennedy had mentioned the ,calabar bean1 ,i had an indefinable feeling that ,honora was concealing something--perhaps not only a fact--but also a great fear4 ,no longer1 now1 did ,kennedy seem to care whether he antagonized her or not4 ,more and more1 it seemed1 it was his purpose to drop the mask with her1 to fight her with other weapons than those psychological4 ,both physostigmine and belladonna are used by oculists1 you know1 hinted ,kennedy1 broadly4 ,the face of ,honora was a study as she listened to this direct insinuation4 ,she bit her lips at the thought that she had betrayed her knowledge of the use of belladonna4 ,for an instant ,honora gazed at ,kennedy1 startled at the penetrating power of his eyes1 as she realized that the finding of the bean had1 in his mind1 perhaps1 some connection with herself4 ,what must have been the conflicting emotions in her mind as1 now1 for the first time1 she realized that ,kennedy had gone deeper into the case than ,doyle or ,leslie1 that1 while she might be a match for them1 she could not possibly hope to be a match against the new weapons of science that ,kennedy had brought to bear8 ,even though she might not fully appreciate them1 ,honora was too clever a woman not to know1 merely by intuition1 that she was faced with a battle in which the old weapons were unavailing4 ,i know the thoughts that were surging1 by ,kennedy's suggestion1 through her mind--the past of her life1 her father1 ,honore ,chappelle2 the old love-affair with ,shattuck2 the attainment of social ambitions with ,wilford--and back again to the life of her girlhood and the profession of her father4 ,i thought for the moment that ,craig had broken through her reserve4 ,i knew that ,kennedy was in reality fishing--at least ,i thought so4 ,but it was evident by her actions that ,honora did not know it4 ,why do you make these--these accusations8 she demanded4 ,you knew that my father was an optician--one of the best known in the city1 she cried1 searching ,craig's face4 ,kennedy nodded implacably4 ,i haven't made any accusations1 he returned1 then added1 directly1 ,but ,i assumed that you knew something of his business while he was alive4 ,i do not know by what right you assume that ,i knew anything of the sort1 she fenced4 ,girls were not supposed to learn trades or professions in those days4 ,honora1 in spite of her assumption of a quiet tone1 was almost hysterical4 ,the mounting flush on her face showed that she was keen with emotion1 that it was only by an almost superhuman effort that she controlled the volcano of her feelings4 ,kennedy could see that it was only by such an effort that she managed to maintain her composure4 ,he must have known that to press the case would have resulted in a situation such as might have advanced us fairly far toward the truth4 ,yet he did not follow farther any advantage he might have4 ,evidently1 ,kennedy was content to let the seed which he had planted during this visit germinate4 ,or was he reluctant to allow ,mc,cabe over the dictagraph hear more that might be reported to ,doyle on which ,doyle might continue to base wrong conclusions8 ,desperately ,i clung to this last explanation4 ,as far as ,honora was concerned1 now1 there was no use in our staying longer4 ,kennedy had deliberately thrown away a chance to drive her into further admissions4 ,the interval had given her the time she needed4 ,now she was keenly on guard and mistress again of herself4 ,secretly ,i was rather glad4 ,it was better to let the information and suspicion that had been aroused work of itself4 ,you are not yourself1 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 suddenly apologized ,kennedy4 ,it is not fair to you4 ,think over some of the things ,i have been forced to say to you4 ,perhaps you will see matters in another light4 ,good-by4 ,i do not know whether his keen questioning or this sudden quiet change of tone and the idea of leaving her at such a time had a greater effect4 ,she shot him one startled look1 then bowed in silence as we1 in turn1 bowed ourselves out4 ,she even denied herself the final glance of curiosity1 lest she might betray sudden relief changed to deep-seated fear at the sudden departure of ,kennedy1 with his cool assumption of power4 ,outside1 we encountered ,celeste1 who had been hovering in the hall1 apparently listening4 ,quietly ,kennedy beckoned her down the hall1 away from the door we had just left1 while he paused a moment to question her4 ,i wish you would refresh your memory1 mademoiselle1 he began1 suddenly4 ,are you sure--absolutely sure that on the night ,mr4 ,wilford was murdered madame was here--that she was not out--at all8 ,his tone was such as to imply1 not suspicion1 but certainty that ,celeste had been lying1 that ,mrs4 ,wilford had been out4 ,oh1 but yes1 monsieur1 ,celeste replied1 glibly4 ,i was with madame all the evening4 ,no--no--she was not out4 ,she was here--all the evening--waiting for him4 ,i can swear it4 ,how many times must ,i swear it--to you--to those--those beasts6 ,celeste nodded outside4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,who should know better than ,i what madame was doing8 continued ,celeste1 vehemently4 ,kennedy did not pursue the subject4 ,you love madame1 don't you1 ,celeste8 he asked1 simply4 ,why--yes6 replied the girl1 startled by the unexpectedness of the question4 ,good day1 nodded ,kennedy1 simply1 as a lawyer might dismiss a witness4 ,methinks she doth protest too much1 ,i quoted1 as ,i remembered the ,aussage test again and its proof of the unreliability of ,celeste4 ,kennedy did not attempt further to shake the girl's story1 and ,i was forced to conclude that he had another purpose in view4 ,perhaps it was that he knew that she would report to ,honora what he had asked4 ,kennedy turned to go out4 ,but he did not close the door tightly as we went out4 ,sure enough1 no sooner had he seemed to shut the door than he could see that she had darted into the room we had just left4 ,kennedy smiled and closed the door softly4 ,,xviii ,,the ,,confession ,little happened during the rest of the day1 which ,i spent in the laboratory1 while ,craig checked up the results of his previous observations on the case4 ,toward the end of the afternoon ,i strolled out1 uncertain just what to do4 ,on the street ,i saw a boy selling papers and ,i called to him4 ,as my eye fell on a black head-line ,i fairly jumped with surprise4 ,i read it again1 hardly able to believe it4 ,it was a startling bit of news that stared me in the face4 ,vina ,lathrop had committed suicide at the ,sainte-,germaine6 ,practically the whole story was told in the head-lines--that is1 all except what little we knew4 ,i turned the pages quickly4 ,belle ,balcom had got in her brief interview with ,vina1 but it contained nothing new1 either4 ,as ,i hastened back to the laboratory there ran through my mind the swift succession of events of the morning--our learning of the separation1 the visit to the hotel1 the meeting1 the coming of ,belle ,balcom1 and finally the appearance of ,doyle4 ,without a doubt it was this succession of events that had convinced ,vina that there was no escape from the social disgrace that awaited her after the action of ,doctor ,lathrop4 ,what do you think8 ,i almost shouted1 as ,i burst into the laboratory and threw the paper before ,craig1 who was still at work in his acid-stained smock4 ,and1 do you know1 often ,i had almost come to regard ,vina as a possible suspect in the case1 too6 ,could ,i have been right8 ,is it a confession8 ,kennedy read the news item1 then tore off his smock and reached for his hat and coat4 ,i'll admit that suicide might be taken as a confession1 as a general rule1 he exclaimed4 ,but it's not so in this case4 ,come--we must get over to the hotel4 ,i doubt whether half the story can be known1 even by this time4 ,i wish ,i had been informed of this earlier4 ,however1 maybe it won't make any difference4 ,it did not take us many minutes to get down to the fashionable hotel1 nor long to get up to the room from which1 in spite of the demands of the hotel people1 the body had not been removed4 ,leslie1 already notified in the course of the city routine1 had arrived perhaps five minutes before us4 ,i was out on a case1 he explained4 ,when ,i got back to the office ,i saw the police notification4 ,but you had already left when ,i tried to call you up4 ,i looked about4 ,there was great excitement among the guests and employees on the floor on which ,vina had taken her rather cheap and unpretentious room4 ,but in all the group ,i could not see one familiar face1 except that of ,doyle1 who had arrived just a few moments before ,leslie4 ,has ,doctor ,lathrop been told8 asked ,kennedy4 ,yes1 but he didn't show any emotion4 ,he has given orders that everything necessary must be done4 ,but he absolutely refuses to allow the funeral to take place from his apartment4 ,he insists that it must be from a private establishment4 ,even in death he will not forgive her4 ,said he would be over--but he hasn't come yet4 ,i doubt whether he will4 ,her relatives live in the ,middle ,west4 ,he did give orders that they were to be notified4 ,what was the cause of death8 asked ,craig4 ,leslie looked at him significantly4 ,i wanted your advice on that1 he remarked4 ,look4 ,he had led ,kennedy over to the white bed on which the body of ,vina lay4 ,the eyes show the characteristic contraction of the pupils that ,i have come to recognize as from physostigmine4 ,in fact1 ,i don't think there can be much doubt about it in this case4 ,what do you think8 ,kennedy bent over and examined the body4 ,i quite agree with you1 he added1 as he rose4 ,it is a case of the same poisoning--only ,i think not by the bean this time1 but by the pure drug4 ,where do you suppose she got it8 asked ,doyle4 ,i'll try to trace it in some of the drugstores to make sure4 ,craig1 ,i exclaimed1 do you recall that ,doctor ,lathrop said he had no use for the bean itself1 but that naturally in his medicine-chest he had the drug8 ,she heard us talking the thing over that time when we visited them4 ,without a doubt it was where she got it--that is1 ,i corrected1 where she might have got it4 ,kennedy nodded4 ,no doubt you are right4 ,it's a case of suicide by suggestion4 ,she heard of the drug--and tried it4 ,it's the way they all do4 ,suicide is a sort of insanity4 ,if one person uses bichloride tablets1 you find that a dozen1 learning of it1 do the same4 ,it's a curious bit of psychology4 ,i agree with you1 chimed in ,leslie4 ,this was a case of the use of the pure alkaloid4 ,nothing else could have acted so swiftly--and everything indicates swift action4 ,the chambermaid had been in the room only a few minutes before4 ,then when she knocked on the door again she got no answer4 ,she thought there was something strange about it1 for she was sure that ,mrs4 ,lathrop had not gone out4 ,so she tried the door4 ,it was locked4 ,but through the keyhole she could see that ,vina had fallen across the foot of the bed4 ,she screamed and then they got the pass key and opened the door4 ,kennedy had gone over to the window and was looking out4 ,on a little roof below he pointed out something gleaming4 ,even from where we were we could see that it was a plain little vial4 ,more than likely she took some of the drug from her husband's office1 he commented4 ,by every indication the act was premeditated--or at least she contemplated doing it4 ,we glanced at each other1 then at the former lovely form on the lonely bed1 as the undertaker1 sent by her husband1 prepared to carry out the last offices1 now that ,doctor ,leslie had given his permission4 ,what about this new development8 asked ,leslie at length of ,kennedy4 ,does it affect your plans at all8 ,very much1 asserted ,kennedy1 energetically4 ,it forces my hand4 ,now ,i must act immediately4 ,for a moment he stood1 planning hastily just what to do4 ,i'm going to try a little piece of psychology1 he decided1 finally1 turning to us4 ,there are many things ,i need to know yet4 ,for one thing1 ,i'm not exactly sure just how much ,mrs4 ,wilford actually knew about her husband and ,vina ,lathrop--not what she suspected or guessed4 ,oh1 there are innumerable points that must be cleared up4 ,i know no better or quicker way than to get them all together at once at my laboratory4 ,then ,i am sure that we can straighten this thing out quickly4 ,he paused and looked about us4 ,now1 he added1 assuming direction of affairs1 with the tacit consent of both ,doyle and ,leslie1 ,i want each of you to help me4 ,you1 ,walter1 perhaps will be the best one to go after ,mrs4 ,wilford4 ,but don't1 for ,heaven's sake1 tell her anything--except that it has been discovered that ,vina ,lathrop is a suicide4 ,doyle1 you have worked some parts of the case up to a final point--in your own mind4 ,i delegate you to go after ,mr4 ,shattuck and bring him to the laboratory4 ,very well1 agreed ,doyle1 with alacrity4 ,i don't mind that duty4 ,he almost grinned4 ,nor did ,i imagine that he did4 ,shattuck had made himself particularly obnoxious to ,doyle and ,i fancied that ,doyle would take a particular pleasure in this errand1 especially as it might lead to the humiliation1 or worse1 of ,shattuck4 ,you1 ,leslie1 as a doctor1 ,i think would be the best to go after ,doctor ,lathrop1 ordered ,kennedy4 ,and all of you are to remember you are not to talk of the case1 but merely to compel the attendance of the persons you are sent after4 ,if they refuse or resist1 you know where to get the authority to coerce them4 ,but ,i don't think any of them will4 ,it would look badly4 ,as we parted1 ,i jumped into a taxicab4 ,i felt sure now that something must break4 ,in spite of all the discouragements1 ,i saw that ,kennedy had been biding his time4 ,he had seemed to be quite willing to wait1 much more so than either ,doyle or ,leslie4 ,i had realized some time before what his game was4 ,anything might have happened to unmask some one4 ,the death of ,vina was that thing4 ,now was the time to follow up his surprise attack4 ,while we were gone1 ,craig hurried to the laboratory and there completed some simple preparations for our reception4 ,from his cabinet he took and adjusted several little instruments1 with an attachment that could be placed about the wrist1 like a cuff or strap4 ,these cuffs were hollow and from each ran a tube attached to an indicator4 ,both the hollow cuffs and the tubes were filled with a colored liquid which registered on a scale on the indicator part4 ,but ,i anticipate my story4 ,i found my end of the duty far from pleasant1 although under other circumstances1 suspicion or not of ,honora1 ,i should have enjoyed an opportunity to meet her4 ,in spite of her feeling against ,vina1 the first news as ,i broke it to her came as a shock which she could not conceal4 ,yet1 ,i felt1 it would have taken more than even the practised eye of ,kennedy to determine just what underlay her feelings in the matter4 ,when1 however1 ,i informed her that my orders were to take her to the laboratory1 she demurred vigorously4 ,it was more by threat than anything else that ,i managed to get her to go4 ,she finally assented1 nervously4 ,her whole attitude was one of not knowing what to expect this time4 ,in silence ,i escorted her in the taxicab to the laboratory1 arriving there last of all1 due to the cajolery ,i had been compelled to use to avoid forcing the issue4 ,leslie and ,lathrop were waiting already4 ,as we entered1 ,honora bowed to ,doctor ,lathrop1 who returned the bow courteously4 ,clearly1 ,i thought1 this is merely the relation of physician and patient4 ,doyle had returned1 but ,mc,cabe was not with him4 ,shattuck had almost fought against coming1 but only a direct threat of arrest on the part of ,doyle had succeeded with him4 ,doyle was correspondingly watchful of his prey4 ,shattuck bowed to ,honora1 and ,i saw that she returned the bow1 a slight flush spread over her face4 ,what was it--fear for him or of him8 ,perhaps ,shattuck misinterpreted the action4 ,at any rate1 he seemed not content with a mere bow4 ,he stepped forward4 ,i hope1 ,honora1 he remarked1 in a low voice1 but not so low that ,i could not catch it1 that you will not think this unpleasantness is in any way due to anything ,i've done4 ,for a moment ,honora stared at ,shattuck1 then at ,doyle1 and finally at ,kennedy4 ,not at all1 she murmured4 ,it seems that ,i no longer have anything whatever to say about my own actions4 ,she said it with a sarcasm that was cutting1 and at the same time with a keen observation of the rest of us4 ,it was as though she were trying to read our minds4 ,kennedy1 at least1 gave her no chance4 ,as she entered1 he greeted her blandly1 and one would never have known from the look on his face or from his manner that it was he who had ordered them all assembled in his laboratory4 ,he was the coolest of us all4 ,i am going to try a little affair here that may or may not yield some results1 he remarked1 picking up one of the cuff attachments that lay before him on the table4 ,it is a simple enough thing4 ,you merely slip this cuff over the wrist--so1 he illustrated4 ,he drew the thing off again and turned to me4 ,i'm going to put the first one on you1 ,walter1 he remarked4 ,you will be my 'control' in the experiment1 as we call it4 ,carefully he adjusted the thing on my wrist1 and as he did so ,i realized that his purpose had been rather to get them familiar with what he was going to do than for any reason directed at me as a control4 ,i watched the liquid in the indicator pulsing minutely as he finished4 ,next he had turned and adjusted one after another of the instruments on the others1 first ,honora1 then ,shattuck1 and finally ,lathrop4 ,when he came to ,leslie and ,doyle he paused and finally decided that as a control ,i was sufficient4 ,it was interesting to see how each of them took it4 ,honora accepted it with her previous passivity4 ,naturally ,shattuck rebelled and it was only after a lengthy argument in which ,doyle moved over ominously that he accepted4 ,lathrop viewed it1 naturally1 with the interest of a man of science4 ,of course1 as you all realize1 remarked ,craig1 as he finished adjusting the instruments1 whatever they were1 there have been many very strange ramifications to this case4 ,it began in tragedy and it seems to continue in tragedy4 ,crime is like the train of powder4 ,when the match is touched to it the fire runs along rapidly until it reaches the magazine--which it will explode unless the fire is stamped out at some point along the line4 ,as he said it he glanced about at the faces before him1 as though to see what each indicated4 ,even ,doctor ,lathrop1 in spite of the suicide of his wife1 showed no emotion4 ,there is no use for me to rehearse the strange circumstances that root back into the past1 ,craig continued4 ,they are well known in general to all of you--the society gossip1 the scandals that have been repeated widely4 ,motives enough for everybody have appeared in this case as ,i have delved into it4 ,what we want now is facts4 ,he paused and leaned forward earnestly4 ,it has always been a theorem with me that one might reason out by all sorts of logical means that a certain person could not have done a certain act at a certain time and place4 ,and yet1 when it has been reasoned out perfectly to the satisfaction of the reasoner--you may find that the person actually did it4 ,therefore1 ,i am a sort of modern ,gradgrind4 ,what ,i want is facts--facts--facts4 ,as he finished he turned toward the table4 ,nor did he seem disposed to add anything immediately4 ,still1 we could see what he was doing and such was the attention riveted on him that ,i am sure none of us missed a movement of his4 ,casually he reached into the pocket of his waistcoat and drew forth the peculiar bean which ,i had picked up on the floor of ,wilford's office4 ,he stood there for a moment1 as though absent-mindedly toying with it1 his back toward us4 ,i glanced about4 ,the action was not lost on any of them1 but ,i watched the face of ,honora more especially4 ,she started forward1 then caught herself4 ,for the moment ,i thought she might have fainted4 ,but she did not4 ,what's the idea1 ,kennedy8 burst out ,shattuck1 impatiently1 observing4 ,is it just some little theatricals--or is it a little ,spanish ,inquisition stuff8 ,just a moment1 ,shattuck1 interrupted ,doyle1 who needed not very much provocation to boil over4 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 he shot out1 suddenly1 before she had recovered her composure1 you have not been frank1 either with the police or with ,mr4 ,kennedy4 ,some one besides you and your husband was in that office that night4 ,i--in the office8 she repeated1 blankly4 ,yes--in the office4 ,we know there was a woman there4 ,i was not there1 she asserted1 positively4 ,some one besides you and your husband--a man--was there1 reiterated ,doyle1 ignoring her denial4 ,kennedy was still half turned away4 ,nor did he show any disposition to interrupt ,doyle4 ,i looked at ,doyle1 wondering why ,kennedy did not interrupt the detective's third degree4 ,remorselessly ,doyle pressed home his questioning4 ,we know much more than you think1 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 exclaimed ,doyle1 menacingly4 ,we have not been idle4 ,there are more sources of information open to the police than maids that earn their pay from their mistresses1 he hinted1 darkly4 ,celeste told the truth1 returned ,honora1 quietly4 ,surely you have had chance enough to have found out about me from her1 if there had been anything to find out4 ,doyle was not to be placated by a soft answer4 ,there were other people about that office that night1 he added1 confidently4 ,mr4 ,wilford was not the only tenant in that building4 ,much can be overheard in the stillness after business hours4 ,don't forget that4 ,why did you tell him to give her up--that she never had loved him1 did not1 and never could love him8 ,honora flushed slightly at the reference implied by ,doyle to ,vina4 ,she seemed about to reply hotly1 then checked herself4 ,she looked about the room as though seeking help from some one1 but not finding it4 ,if you were really there1 interrupted ,kennedy1 quietly1 for the first time1 tell4 ,i saw ,shattuck scowl blackly at ,kennedy for lending the weight of his support even thus mildly to ,doyle's bulldozing4 ,almost ,i hated ,craig for doing it1 myself4 ,honora's friendlessness appealed to me as it had often before4 ,however1 ,i reasoned1 sentiment is a dangerous thing in a murder case4 ,it is your duty to tell1 urged ,kennedy4 ,it is ours to find out4 ,as ,doyle says1 we have found out much4 ,some one--two people--were in that office1 besides your husband6 ,there was silence4 ,a man was there--came later--at the time when the murder must have been committed6 ,an instant she faltered and gazed wildly from one to the other of us beside her4 ,the strain was too great4 ,it was as though something snapped under it4 ,no6 she cried1 half sobbing1 half defiant4 ,there was no one in that office6 ,i-- ,it was too much for ,shattuck4 ,out of the corner of my eye ,i had seen his glance riveted on ,kennedy's hands as ,craig twirled the ,calabar bean nonchalantly4 ,he turned suddenly and looked at ,honora--then strode a step forward4 ,professor ,kennedy1 he exclaimed1 in a husky voice1 she was not there4 ,it was ,i who was in the office4 ,i will tell all6 ,,xix ,,the ,,lie-,,detector ,i do not know whether ,kennedy was as startled as ,i at the unexpected confession of ,shattuck4 ,at any rate1 his face did not betray it4 ,it was ,honora1 however1 whom ,i watched most closely4 ,her color came and went4 ,one moment she seemed as pale as death2 the next her face was flushed and burning4 ,yet she said nothing1 though ,i knew she could have shrieked4 ,what did it mean8 ,had she told the truth8 ,or had she confessed to something1 in the hope of saving him8 ,for the moment ,shattuck was the calmest in the room1 as generally happens in a crisis of this nature with the principal actor in the scene4 ,let me tell you exactly what happened1 he began1 deliberately1 avoiding as much as possible the mocking gaze of ,doyle1 who seemed delighted at the course of events4 ,shattuck paused and cleared his throat1 as though to gain time to think out the correct order of events4 ,i came to the office1 he continued1 slowly4 ,it was quite late1 but ,i found ,vail ,wilford there and alone1 he emphasized the word4 ,as ,i entered1 he was sitting at his desk4 ,he turned and spoke to me4 ,i don't recall just what it was that he said1 but that doesn't make any difference now4 ,i had thought the whole thing out before4 ,i knew perfectly what ,i was there for4 ,the situation--the wide scandal between himself and ,vina ,lathrop--had become intolerable4 ,as for me1 ,i may as well confess that the growing unhappiness of ,mrs4 ,wilford preyed on my mind--until ,i was almost mad4 ,i heard ,honora take a sharp breath1 as though to control her feelings4 ,she was leaning forward now1 her cheeks burning1 her eyes fixed on the face of the man who was speaking4 ,with every word1 ,i could see her emotions rising higher4 ,never had ,i dreamed that it was in this woman to show such depth of feeling4 ,it was as though she were passing through some transformation which she herself did not understand1 but which was changing her own soul and making a new creature of her4 ,i cannot recall just what passed between us1 went on ,shattuck1 as though eager to hasten on and have it over with4 ,it was about his wife and what ,i thought his duties were4 ,every moment ,i could see that he was growing more and more angry--which was what ,i intended4 ,finally he rose1 threatening4 ,wilford was a powerful man and no mean antagonist--but ,i had come prepared4 ,i had my gun at his breast before he knew it4 ,i forced him back into his chair4 ',honora is being driven mad by the way things are going1' ,i remember ,i shouted at him4 ',one or the other of us must get out of her life4' ,i could have shot him as he sat there1 facing me before his desk--but ,i did not4 ,shattuck was talking calmly now1 and earnestly1 though underneath there was a depth of passion4 ,then what8 demanded ,doyle1 as though fearful that something might even yet arise to stop the story4 ,i took one of those things1 those beans that ,kennedy has been talking about1 he answered1 pointing at the bean ,kennedy was still holding in his hand4 ,where did you get it8 ,in ,africa1 of course1 he hastened4 ,where else8 ,have you any more8 demanded ,doyle4 ,yes--,i think so1 came back quickly4 ,i may have used the last one1 though--or rather two1 that is4 ,you see1 ,i must have dropped one and lost it4 ,then ,i must have forgotten about it in the excitement--that one ,kennedy has4 ,i see1 nodded ,doyle4 ,always there is some loophole you people leave open1 some place where the cleverest of you fall down and get caught4 ,shattuck suppressed a quick retort that was on his lips4 ,as ,i faced him1 he went on1 ,i told him that ,i would not kill him outright4 ,i would give him an equal chance4 ,i am a sportsman4 ,i told him what the thing was1 of the duels ,i had seen in ,africa1 of the chance that each took4 ,at the very point of the gun ,i forced him to take the bean that was lying on the desk and cut it in half with my knife4 ,then ,i took back the knife and pointed to the two parts that lay on the desk before him4 ',choose6' ,i ordered4 ,but the glasses1 interrupted ,doyle1 before he could check himself4 ,you forgot about the two glasses on the desk4 ,oh yes--the glasses--on the desk4 ,there were two glasses--,i got two glasses4 ,i filled them with water4 ,i placed one before him1 the other before myself4 ',choose6' ,i ordered him1 pointing to the halves of the bean before him4 ,one thing ,i can say4 ,vail ,wilford was not yellow4 ,he saw that ,i had him--that there was no escape4 ,he looked from the gun to me1 then at the halves of the bean4 ,outside there was silence4 ,no place1 you know1 is more deserted than down-town late at night after business hours4 ,if he shouted1 he knew that ,i would fire--also if he moved4 ,i gave him sixty seconds to choose which half he would take4 ,at the point of the gun he chose4 ',now1' ,i said to him1 taking the remaining half myself1 'put it in your mouth1 chew it1 swallow it4 ,if you spit out so much as a fragment ,i will fire instantly4' ,and ,i give him credit4 ,he was a sportsman and a gentleman through it all4 ,i watched him chew it1 and when he started ,i reached over and took my half4 ,i began to chew that1 myself4 ,then1 together1 we drank the water from the glasses1 so that we would have to swallow the parts of the bean4 ,though ,i had him in my power1 ,i did not take advantage of him4 ,honora gasped at the picture ,shattuck was drawing4 ,the recital was deeply affecting to her4 ,i saw her leaning forward1 and her rapidly rising and falling breast told the suppressed emotion under which she labored4 ,all right1 hurried ,doyle1 to whom the dramatic quality of the tale had little appeal4 ,but what about the note8 ,you forget to tell us about the suicide note4 ,oh yes1 exclaimed ,shattuck1 so ,i did--about the note4 ,i made him write it before we ate the bean--while ,i had him covered4 ,i made him sit down at his own typewriter and ,i dictated it to him--one for myself1 the other for him--to be used in case either survived4 ,you made him write one for you8 ,yes4 ,what did you do with it8 ,i destroyed it afterward--of course4 ,doyle was forced to accept the answer4 ,and you were alone8 ,absolutely alone with him4 ,let me tell it--listen to me--will you8 ,we ate the halves of the bean4 ,i still kept the gun on him4 ,i was taking no chances4 ,the minutes passed as ,i stood over him--five--ten4 ,on which of us would the thing take effect first8 ,it was a terrible wait4 ,i will admit it4 ,but it was the ordeal4 ,we were just primitive men4 ,besides1 he added1 still keeping his glance from the face of ,honora1 who was leaning forward1 her lustrous eyes trying to catch his1 ,i was playing for a big stake--it was death or what is really more than life to me4 ,he paused just a fraction of a second1 but only a fraction1 as though he himself were afraid of an interruption4 ,at last ,i saw that his heart and lungs were beginning to be affected4 ,his eyes were narrowed1 the pupils to a pin-point--am ,i right about that1 ,professor8 ,never mind4 ,in myself ,i waited for the same symptoms to appear4 ,and ,i began to feel them1 too4 ,i was dizzy--with a burning thirst--but--alive6 ,still1 ,i kept the gun leveled at him--the best ,i could1 for my hand shook4 ,he did not know that1 could not see it4 ,consciousness was fast going from him4 ,but ,i was determined4 ,i would live4 ,i saw that ,i might have the--the woman--,i would give my life for4 ,perhaps it was will-power that saved me4 ,but--they cannot say ,i did not give him a fair chance for the woman and the life that he did not deserve6 ,breathlessly now we were all listening4 ,honora was trembling4 ,doctor ,lathrop bent forward1 nervously pulling his beard1 his eyes riveted on the speaker4 ,only ,doyle seemed to take the thing as a matter of course4 ,and ,honora ,wilford8 ,doyle interjected4 ,what was she doing at-- ,no--no--no1 she was not there1 ,i tell you4 ,no one but ,wilford and ,i was there6 ,shattuck had burst forth with the first words in quick staccato1 slowing up the assertion until at the end he was speaking slowly and warily4 ,i had an impression that he was not so certain of himself that he could trust himself to get excited4 ,once ,i caught sight of ,kennedy4 ,he was saying nothing at all4 ,but he was not idle4 ,taking advantage of the rapt attention of the little audience1 he had stolen softly behind them4 ,i saw him looking carefully at the various indicators of the arrangements on the wrists and noting them carefully4 ,was ,shattuck telling the truth about what happened--or was he coloring it to save himself8 ,but about the atropin--in one glass and nothing in the other8 shot out ,kennedy1 suddenly4 ,it was as though a bombshell had exploded4 ,oh yes--yes1 he faltered1 the atropin--of course1 of course4 ,in his glass1 also1 ,i--,i-- ,shattuck stopped4 ,what was the matter8 ,did he realize that he was getting hopelessly tangled8 ,it is a pretty story1 this1 about your duel1 as you call it1 interrupted ,doyle4 ,but it was not atropin that killed him4 ,it was physostigmine4 ,atropin is the antidote4 ,didn't you know that1 when you planned this ordeal you speak about8 ,besides1 the traces of atropin were not in the glass that was found nearest the body4 ,they were in the other4 ,for a moment ,shattuck stared helplessly4 ,was he1 after all1 just a murderer8 ,had he framed this duel by poison1 preparing safety for himself1 death for ,wilford8 ,come now1 ,shattuck1 exclaimed ,doyle1 adopting that confidential manner that worked so well often with underworld characters1 but seemed so out of place here1 did you--honestly--fight such a duel8 ,didn't you really force ,mr4 ,wilford to eat that bean8 ,and weren't you protecting yourself8 ,aren't there motives enough that we know for you to have wanted him out of the way8 ,before ,shattuck could reply1 there was a sudden exclamation from some one beside me4 ,a figure in a filmy dress darted between ,doyle and ,shattuck4 ,no--no--wait6 ,we were all on our feet in an instant at this sudden interruption at such a tense moment4 ,it was ,honora1 no longer the stately creature of dignity we had seen1 no longer the passive person submitting to the tests of ,kennedy's psychology1 suppressing the emotions that lay in her heart4 ,her whole being seemed to be transformed4 ,it was as though a new spirit had been instilled suddenly into her4 ,she faced us1 and as ,i looked into her burning eyes ,i saw that what had been the mere statue of a woman1 as we had first known her1 had become a throbbing soul of life and passion4 ,shattuck saw the change4 ,in spite of the terrible situation1 his face kindled4 ,it was worth it1 if only for the brief moments1 to feel that he had aroused in her that which he saw4 ,wait1 she repeated1 let me tell4 ,doyle was about to interrupt1 but ,kennedy1 who had not for a moment1 even at this crisis1 forgotten to glance quickly at one of the instrument dials after another1 pulled him back and silenced him without a spoken word4 ,you say there was a woman there8 she swept on1 taking up the story1 as though seizing it from ,shattuck4 ,there was a woman there4 ,it was ,i4 ,i was with him4 ,the thing came as another thunderbolt1 as it were1 before the reverberation of the first had ceased echoing4 ,not one of us but realized what it meant4 ,honora had cast reputation1 all1 to the winds1 to save him6 ,she looked about at us1 and never have ,i seen a woman more appealing1 not even in any of the great moments of great cases in court which it has been my fortune to have witnessed and to have written4 ,cynic though ,i am1 and knowing1 as ,i thought at the moment1 the purpose of it all1 to save the man she loved1 ,i could not resist the appeal4 ,nor was it directed at me4 ,so marvelous was she that she took in the whole group1 at once appealing to each1 as if a sudden power had become hers4 ,quickly she poured forth her story1 as though she1 too1 feared interruption4 ,it is all true--all that he has told1 she cried4 ,i saw it all--heard it4 ,but there is more--more that he will not tell4 ,he has not told the whole story4 ,listen4 ,it seemed as if she realized for the first time the power of an emotional woman4 ,and her very instinct told her how to play upon us4 ,i knew the ,calabar bean1 she explained4 ,i need not tell ,professor ,kennedy that4 ,of course1 as he knows1 ,i had seen them in my father's laboratory1 at his shop4 ,and so1 when ,i knew what it was that was taking place--what was ,i to do8 ,she paused1 as though her intuition told her that the playing up of a dramatic moment would cover a multitude of questions that might otherwise come awkwardly flocking and demanding an answer as to much that she had not explained4 ,should ,i scream out for help8 ,he might have fired the gun4 ,besides-- ,she stopped again and dropped her gaze4 ,there was my reputation1 she added4 ,doyle smiled cynically4 ,she saw it4 ,there was nothing1 no slightest facial change that she missed4 ,what do ,i care--for anything--now8 she defied1 directing the remark full at ,doyle1 who winced4 ,shattuck's face was a study as she poured forth her story4 ,there was admiration in every line of it--and surprise4 ,i was convinced that she had swept him off his feet as she had all of us4 ,what did it mean8 ,what was ,i to do8 she repeated1 gazing about wildly4 ,it came to me in a flash1 an inspiration1 she raced on1 the atropin--belladonna4 ,i remembered it from the old days when ,i was little more than a school-girl1 in the store4 ,involuntarily she reached for her chatelaine1 but did not open it1 as she illustrated4 ,i had my belladonna bottle with me4 ,rapt1 now1 we watched and listened4 ,there were only a few drops left in the bottle1 ,i knew4 ,i never carried much--nor used it often4 ,she paused and clasped her hands as though in an agony of recollection4 ,was she telling the truth--or was she really a great actress who had just found herself8 ,i tried to run between them--,i pleaded--my name--my honor--everything4 ,they would not listen4 ,she stopped just long enough to allow our own now supersensitive minds to reconstruct the scene already described by ,shattuck between the two men4 ,but ,i managed to get between them and the glasses on the desk4 ,i held the bottle1 in one hand behind me--so4 ,she acted it out1 placing herself between us and a table1 her face toward us1 but her hand holding an imaginary bottle behind her4 ,it was real to her1 at least4 ,which would ,i save8 ,she paused in desperation as she reconstructed the scene4 ,almost she had me convinced already1 as she played out the part1 under the stress of her feelings4 ,which8 ,my husband--or the other man whom ,i--,i-- ,she let her voice die away over the implied word loved and there was another tense moment of silence4 ,there was not enough for both1 she added1 quickly2 then1 as though sweeping us on to the finale3 ,i poured the few drops of belladonna into the glass nearest me4 ,vance--,mr4 ,shattuck1 drank it6 ,she swayed as the words were wrung from her very soul4 ,shattuck sprang to her and caught her4 ,you're wonderful1 he whispered4 ,honora--why--why have you said this8 ,for answer she merely allowed herself to rest more closely in his arms4 ,doyle moved forward with a triumphant smile4 ,it made no difference to him4 ,it was a confession1 either way4 ,and confessions meant convictions and success to him4 ,what was human emotion1 compared to a good record and report in the files at ,headquarters8 ,honora looked from ,doyle to ,kennedy fearfully4 ,she shrank farther into ,shattuck's arms1 nor did ,shattuck relax his embrace4 ,it's true1 she cried4 ,it's true4 ,i tell you--it was a duel--just as he said--really--and ,i saved him6 ,not one of us moved as we realized the situation4 ,she would sacrifice her reputation1 everything4 ,but she would save her lover4 ,it was not murder--it-- ,doyle raged1 as he realized that1 after all1 a clever lawyer1 with this woman as a witness1 the heart-throbbing hypothetical question1 and the impressionable jury might quickly overturn all that ,doyle might swear to4 ,i beg your pardon1 interrupted ,kennedy1 looking up from his rounds of examination of the dials4 ,you know this little thing--the blood-pressure measurer that is used by the doctors8 ,many insurance companies use similar things in investigating risks4 ,at once ,kennedy had wrested from ,shattuck and ,honora the center of the stage4 ,nor did he intend to relinquish it4 ,i beg your pardon1 he repeated1 but my sphygmograph--this little instrument--my lie-detector1 if you please--tells me you are both lying6 ,,xx ,,the ,,soul ,,scar ,let me go back a bit1 began ,kennedy1 as in perplexity we turned to him4 ,let me repeat how ,i first entered this case4 ,you will remember it was because of my interest in the dreams of ,honora ,wilford4 ,i have studied them ever since4 ,my first clue came from them4 ,from them ,i have worked out my leads4 ,at the mention of the dreams ,honora had drawn away from ,shattuck4 ,she was gazing at ,kennedy1 wide-eyed4 ,shattuck1 too1 was following tensely4 ,no less were ,doyle and ,leslie4 ,doctor ,lathrop leaned forward1 his brow wrinkled1 as he tugged at his beard1 impatiently listening4 ,let us take those dreams1 without wasting any more time1 continued ,kennedy4 ,i do not know how many of you are acquainted with the ,freud theory4 ,mr4 ,jameson is1 by this time4 ,also ,mr4 ,shattuck4 ,we've seen some of ,freud's books in his library4 ,doctor ,leslie knows it1 ,i am sure1 and ,doctor ,lathrop has told me he reacts against many of ,freud's theories seriously4 ,i shall not attempt to explain the theory1 but shall touch on certain phases of my psychanalysis1 he remarked1 addressing the remark apparently to ,honora4 ,recall that ,freud tells us that all dreams are primarily about self in some way or interests close to self4 ,your first dream and each succeeding dream which ,i learned1 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 were1 ,i take it then1 about your own relations with your husband4 ,honora looked startled1 not only at having been singled out1 but at the mention of the dreams and the vague thought of what might1 after all1 have been derived from them by this man whom she did not understand4 ,the dream of death1 the struggle dream1 the bull-and-serpent dream1 the dream of fire and explosion1 all pointed to one thing among others1 but one thing that was paramount4 ,really you did not love your husband--with that deep1 passionate love which every woman yearns to possess4 ,it was not your fault4 ,you were the creature of forces1 of circumstances1 of feelings which were out of your control4 ,i could have told you more about yourself than you would have admitted--half an hour ago1 he qualified4 ,it was a delicate and intimate subject1 yet ,kennedy handled it without a touch of morbidness4 ,from the study of your dreams1 he resumed1 as ,i have already hinted1 many other things might have been discovered4 ,one of the next importance to your unconscious feeling toward your husband was shown clearly4 ,it was that you knew that another woman had entered his life4 ,kennedy glanced from her to ,doctor ,lathrop1 and back to ,honora4 ,of course1 you did not know the whole story--that that woman was merely using your husband as a means to an end4 ,but it would have made no difference if you had4 ,in that she was equally in your way1 whether you would have admitted it or not4 ,we can speak frankly on this subject now4 ,vina ,lathrop's death has put a different aspect on that phase of the case4 ,oh1 ,i see1 interrupted ,shattuck1 who had been following carefully up to this point1 when it suddenly dawned on him that ,kennedy's remarks were converging on himself and the gossip that had flown far and wide regarding ,vina and himself4 ,i see4 ,you have been reading the ,french detective tales--eh8--,cherchez la femme8 ,kennedy ignored the interruption4 ,he did not intend to let any such aside destroy the thread of either his thought or his argument4 ,let me delve a little deeper in the analysis1 he proceeded1 calmly4 ,there was something back of that lack of love1 something even deeper than the hurt given by the discovery of his relations with the other woman4 ,if ,shattuck had been minded to pursue the guerrilla conversation in the hope of harassing ,kennedy1 this remark was like an explosion of shrapnel4 ,he sought cover4 ,kennedy was talking rapidly and earnestly now4 ,in short1 he concluded1 there is something which we call a soul scar here--a psychic wound--a mental trauma4 ,it bears the same relation to the soul that a wound does to the body4 ,and1 as in the case of some wounds1 muscles and limbs do not function and must be re-educated1 so in these mental and moral cases feelings and emotions must be made to function again1 must be re-educated4 ,i need not refer to what caused that wound4 ,i think we understand the reaction that almost any girl would experience against one whom she loved but considered unworthy4 ,i saw it the moment ,i began to analyze the dreams4 ,in spite of its intimate nature1 ,kennedy kept his analysis on almost an impersonal level4 ,it was as though he were telling us the results of his study of some new substance that had been submitted to him for his opinion4 ,mrs4 ,wilford1 he went on1 speaking rather to us generally now than to her1 married not for love--whatever she may say or even think about it4 ,yet love--romantic love--was open to her1 if she would only let herself go4 ,i saw that as he proceeded1 ,shattuck had colored deeply4 ,he knew the origin of this soul wound in her disapproval of the life he had led at the time4 ,he shifted restlessly4 ,all my psychanalysis1 by whatever means ,i went at it1 whether merely by study of the dreams or by having them written out a second time in order to compare the omissions and hesitations1 whether by the association test1 the day-dreaming when relaxed1 or the ,jung association word test1 all the psychological expedients ,i resorted to1 now paying out1 as it were1 a piece of information1 now withholding another1 and always watching what effect it had upon the various parties to this case1 all1 ,i say1 tended toward one end--the discovery of the truth that was hidden from us4 ,finally1 he exclaimed1 came the time when ,i allowed ,doyle to place a dictagraph in the apartment1 where we might overhear the interplay of the forces let loose by the information which ,i was allowing to leak out in one way or another4 ,involuntarily1 ,honora turned and caught the eye of ,shattuck leveled at her4 ,each looked startled4 ,what had ,craig overheard through that dictagraph8 ,the thought was quite evident in both minds4 ,honora gripped her chair4 ,shattuck turned and stared sullenly at the man before him4 ,to return to the dreams1 resumed ,kennedy1 apparently not noticing this interchange of looks and byplay4 ,from the hesitations in telling and retelling the dreams1 from the changes that were made1 from a somewhat similar process in tracing out the more controlled thoughts of the waking state1 ,i found that everything confirmed and amplified my original conclusion4 ,true1 ,i did not know all4 ,i may not know all yet4 ,but each time ,i added to my knowledge until there were so many things that joined up and corroborated one another that there was no human possibility left that ,i was on the wrong track4 ,one might have heard a pin drop in the laboratory as ,craig held his auditors and carried them along1 even after the intensity of feeling that we had witnessed scarcely a few minutes before4 ,i wish ,i had time to go into the many phases of the dream theories of the modern scientists1 he hastened4 ,for hours1 with ,mr4 ,jameson1 ,i have patiently tried to interpret and fit together the strange and fantastic conceptions of the mind when the censorship of consciousness is raised in sleep1 veiling things which are as little thought of in your philosophies as you could well imagine4 ,for example1 nothing in modern psychological science is more amazing1 more likely to cause violent dissent1 than the intimate connection that exists between the fundamental passions of love and hate4 ,there is no need of the injunction to love our enemies--in this sense4 ,very often it happens that those we love may arouse the most intense hate1 and that those we hate may exercise a fascination over us that we ourselves hasten to repress and refuse to admit4 ,it is curious1 but more and more it is coming to be recognized4 ,and before ,i go a step farther1 he added1 let me forestall what is going to happen in this case as certainly as if ,i were adding chlorin to sodium and were going to derive salt4 ,when ,i touch the deep1 true 'complex1' as we psychanalysts call it1 ,i shall expect the very idea to be rejected with scorn and indignation4 ,thereby will the very theory itself be proved4 ,shattuck1 your old rule may work well with the case of a man4 ,but the new rule1 the complementary rule1 for woman is ,cherchez l'homme4 ,it was not said to ,shattuck1 however4 ,with clever psychology ,kennedy aimed the remark full at ,honora4 ,she flushed and her eyes blazed defiance4 ,scornfully and angrily she cast a withering glance at ,craig as she drew herself up with dignity4 ,then--you think1 your science teaches--that a woman must be a fool--that she does not know with whom she really is in love--that she can really be in love with one whom she--hates8 ,there was a flash of satisfaction in ,craig's eyes4 ,complex1 ,i read it4 ,as for ,shattuck1 where a moment ago he had scoffed1 he remained to pray1 or rather to smile faintly4 ,i did not say exactly that1 returned ,kennedy1 although it may seem that way1 if you choose to interpret the intimate relationship of love and hate so4 ,follow me just a moment4 ,consciously1 she may hate4 ,education1 society1 morality1 religion--this thing we call civilization--may exert restraints4 ,unconsciously1 though1 she may love4 ,the veneer of modern society is very thin4 ,i think the experiences the world is going through to-day demonstrate that4 ,underneath there are the deep1 basic passions of millions of years4 ,they must be reckoned with4 ,it is better to reckon with them than to be wrecked by them4 ,the wonder is1 not that they are so strong--but that the veneer covers them so well6 ,powerfully though as ,kennedy was making the presentation of the case1 ,honora tenaciously refused to admit it4 ,like her sex1 when a general proposition was made she immediately made a personal application1 found it distasteful1 and rejected the proposition4 ,still1 ,kennedy was not dismayed4 ,nor did he admit defeat1 or even checkmating4 ,for several seconds he paused1 then added in a low tone that was almost inaudible1 yet in a way that did not call for an answer4 ,could you--be honest1 now1 with yourself1 for you need not say a word aloud--could you always be sure of yourself1 after this1 in the face of any situation8 ,she looked startled at his sudden shift of the argument to the personal ground4 ,her ordinarily composed face betrayed everything1 though it was averted from the rest of us and could be seen only fully by ,kennedy4 ,in the welter of passion1 as one fact after another had been torn forth during the moments since she had come to the laboratory1 much had happened to ,honora which never before had entered her well-ordered1 conservative life4 ,she knew the truth that she strove to repress4 ,she was afraid of herself4 ,and she knew that he knew4 ,the defiance in her eyes died slowly4 ,it is dangerous1 she murmured1 to be with a person who pays attention to such little things4 ,if every one were like you1 ,i would no longer breathe a syllable of my dreams6 ,she was sobbing now4 ,what was back of it all8 ,i had heard of the so-called resolution dreams4 ,i had heard of dreams that kill1 of unconscious murder1 of terrible acts of the somnambulist1 of temporary insanity1 of many deeds of which the doer had no recollection in the waking state1 until put under hypnotism4 ,could it be such a thing which ,kennedy was driving at disclosing8 ,i cast a hasty glance about at our little audience4 ,doyle was hushed1 now4 ,this was far beyond him4 ,leslie was deeply interested4 ,doctor ,lathrop had moved closer to ,honora on the other side of ,shattuck1 as if to reassure her4 ,kennedy1 too1 was studying attentively the effect of his revelation both on ,honora and the others4 ,honora1 her shoulders bent with the outpouring of the long-suppressed emotion of the examination1 called for sympathy4 ,shattuck saw it1 saw the distress she so plainly showed4 ,kennedy1 he exclaimed1 unable to restrain himself longer1 pushing aside ,doctor ,lathrop1 as he placed himself between her and the man whom he regarded now as her tormentor1 ,kennedy--you are a faker--nothing but a damned dream doctor--in scientific disguise4 ,perhaps1 smiled ,kennedy1 unaffected by the threat4 ,but let me finish4 ,then you may think differently4 ,he turned deliberately from ,shattuck to the rest of us4 ,what happened at that office the fatal night was this1 he shot out4 ,there was a woman there4 ,but from what ,i deduce1 it was not ,honora ,wilford4 ,it must have been ,vina ,lathrop6 ,i felt a shock of surprise4 ,yet1 after all1 ,i had to admit that there was nothing improbable about it4 ,later1 he resumed1 someone else did enter that office4 ,in all probability that person did hold up ,vail ,wilford1 with a gun perhaps1 just about as we have heard described4 ,the ,calabar bean was cut in half1 undoubtedly4 ,you will see from the facts in the case that it must have been so4 ,probably1 too1 each wrote a suicide note--on the typewriter--either to save the survivor1 or at the dictation of the person who survived4 ,each must have eaten half of the bean4 ,but1 added ,kennedy1 impressively1 it was no duel by poison--really4 ,that other person knew the antidote--knew that the antidote was atropin--came prepared4 ,that other person deliberately put atropin in his own glass of water1 knowing that it was the antidote4 ,no1 it was no duel4 ,it was murder--plain murder6 ,as he finished1 ,kennedy's voice rang out sharply and decisively in a direct accusation4 ,as for you1 ,doyle1 he added1 catching the eye of the detective1 you put your money on the wrong horse1 as you would say4 ,you thought that in my constant examination of ,mrs4 ,wilford ,i coincided with your superficial observation4 ,but ,i had another purpose1 a very different purpose4 ,kennedy stopped a moment to turn from ,doyle to the woman ,doyle had persecuted4 ,honora and ,shattuck were again close together1 watching ,kennedy intently1 oblivious of all but themselves and him4 ,it gave me a start to see them as they were now4 ,honora and the man she really loved were united at last4 ,in his face ,i could see a far different kind of ,shattuck1 as though the fire of the ordeal had purified him4 ,i caught a look of satisfaction that crossed ,craig's face4 ,he had succeeded4 ,back of all1 ,i now saw that ,kennedy had had all along a very human intention4 ,quickly ,i sought to explain what had already taken place only a few moments before4 ,had ,shattuck lied to save her1 when he saw that ,doyle was framing a case against her8 ,if that were so1 then had she1 with her quick wit1 come to the rescue1 with a marvelously constructed story that fitted perfectly with that which he had told and had broken down in telling8 ,had ,shattuck and ,honora1 cornered1 as they thought by ,doyle1 leaped at any suggestion8 ,but the truth--what was it8 ,kennedy was speaking again1 and now all hung on each word4 ,the stuff that dreams are made of is very real1 after all1 he remarked4 ,just take this case itself4 ,suppose some one1 who understood better than ,honora ,wilford1 learned of her dreams--interpreted them--found out the truth about her relations with another--found out1 as ,i have done1 what she herself did not know--and then acted on the information4 ,suppose that person knew of the soul scar1 the old wound1 knew from the dreams the conflict between the various persons--and encouraged the dream actors--in real life4 ,suppose1 too1 that that person1 learning of what ,vail ,wilford was doing1 had a personal grievance--a spite--a desire for bitter revenge4 ,as ,kennedy built up his hypothetical case ,i became more and more enthralled by it4 ,it was more than hypothesis now4 ,the sphygmograph1 he resumed1 has told me just what ,i still needed to know1 even while you all have been here1 perhaps forgetful of the little telltale that has been attached to your wrists4 ,it is a faithful recorder of emotions1 if you know how to study it4 ,what is hidden from the eye the heart reveals4 ,this heart machine will record it1 betray the inmost secrets4 ,kennedy drew himself up slowly1 as though to impress forcefully what he was about to add4 ,psychanalysis1 he exclaimed1 has led through ,honora's soul scar to the discovery of the truth by the aid of this little lie-detector4 ,it was your revenge on ,vail ,wilford--,lathrop6 ,harshly ,lathrop laughed1 as though he had sensed the coming of the accusation all along4 ,i took a step toward him1 and as ,i did so something about his eyes almost halted me4 ,the pupils were strangely contracted4 ,i did not recall having noticed it before1 certainly not when he came in4 ,again he laughed harshly4 ,with a shaking hand he reached into his pocket and drew forth something4 ,i saw instantly that it was a ,calabar bean4 ,he was about to place it in his mouth when ,craig leaped and struck it from his hand4 ,honora screamed as ,lathrop reeled back into his chair4 ,instantly ,shattuck's arm stole about her solicitously as she shrank from the shaking figure in the chair near by4 ,her hand stole into his4 ,no cheating justice1 ,lathrop6 exclaimed ,kennedy1 seizing his wrist1 which was already clammy4 ,he smiled faintly1 and his lips moved with an effort4 ,i did--what ,i did4 ,it's too late for atropin now6 ,,the ,,end ,,books ,,by ,,sir ,,gilbert ,,parker ,,the ,,world ,,for ,,sale ,,the ,,money ,,master ,,the ,,judgment ,,house ,,the ,,right ,,of ,,way ,,the ,,ladder ,,of ,,swords ,,the ,,weavers ,,the ,,battle ,,of ,,the ,,strong ,,when ,,valmond ,,came ,,to ,,pontiac ,,the ,,lane ,,that ,,had ,,no ,,turning ,,northern ,,lights ,,pierre ,,and ,,his ,,people ,,an ,,adventurer ,,of ,,the ,,north ,a ,,romany ,,of ,,the ,,snows ,,cumner',s ,,son1 ,,and ,,other ,,south ,,sea ,,folk ,,harper ,,brothers ,,new ,,york ,,established #ahag ,,london ,,books ,,by ,,rex ,,beach ,,the ,,winds ,,of ,,chance ,,too ,,fat ,,to ,,fight ,,laughing ,,bill ,,hyde ,,rainbow',s ,,end ,,the ,,auction ,,block ,,the ,,crimson ,,gardenia ,,the ,,iron ,,trail ,,the ,,spoilers ,,the ,,barrier ,,the ,,silver ,,horde ,,the ,,net ,,the ,,ne',,er-,,do-,,well ,,heart ,,of ,,the ,,sunset ,,going ,,some ,,harper ,,brothers ,,new ,,york ,,established #ahag ,,london ,,novels ,,of ,,thomas ,,hardy ,the ,new ,thin-,paper ,edition of the greatest living ,english novelist is issued in two bindings3 ,red ,limp-,leather and ,red ,flexible ,cloth1 #abmo4 ,frontispiece in each volume4 ,,desperate ,,remedies ,,far ,,from ,,the ,,madding ,,crowd ,a ,,group ,,of ,,noble ,,dames ,,the ,,hand ,,of ,,ethelberta ,,jude ,,the ,,obscure ,a ,,laodicean ,,life',s ,,little ,,ironies ,,the ,,mayor ,,of ,,casterbridge ,a ,,pair ,,of ,,blue ,,eyes ,,the ,,return ,,of ,,the ,,native ,,tess ,,of ,,the ,d',,urbervilles ,,the ,,trumpet ,,major ,,two ,,on ,a ,,tower ,,under ,,the ,,greenwood ,,tree ,,the ,,well-,,beloved ,,wessex ,,tales ,,the ,,woodlanders ,,harper ,,brothers ,,new ,,york ,,established #ahag ,,london ,,novels ,,of ,,will ,n4 ,,harben ,his people talk as if they had not been in books before1 and they talk all the more interestingly because they have for the most part not been in society1 or ever will be4 ,they express themselves in the neighborly parlance with a fury of fun1 of pathos1 and profanity which is native to their region4 ,of all our localists1 as ,i may call the type of ,american writers whom ,i think the most national1 no one has done things more expressive of the life he was born to than ,mr4 ,harben4 ,,william ,,dean ,,howells4 ,,the ,,hills ,,of ,,refuge ,,the ,,inner ,,law ,,abner ,,daniel ,,ann ,,boyd4 ,illustrated ,,dixie ,,hart4 ,frontispiece ,,gilbert ,,neal4 ,frontispiece ,,mam' ,,linda ,,jane ,,dawson4 ,frontispiece ,,paul ,,rundel4 ,frontispiece ,,pole ,,baker ,,second ,,choice4 ,frontispiece ,,the ,,desired ,,woman4 ,frontispiece4 ,,the ,,georgians ,,the ,,new ,,clarion4 ,frontispiece ,,the ,,redemption ,,of ,,kenneth ,,galt4 ,frontispiece ,,the ,,substitute ,,westerfelt ,post #hvo1 ,cloth ,,harper ,,brothers ,,new ,,york ,,established #ahag ,,london ,,transcriber',s ,,corrections page original text correction #bab she hestitated a fraction she hesitated a fraction #bgj ,they are well know ,they are well known #bgb sources of informaation sources of information