house, since it seems certain it was his—how long ago, I can't say. She went to see him, I know, and accused him of villainy to Liane. Perhaps she took it then, Heaven knows why."
"Maybe with a good motive," suggested Terry. "She must have spoken very hardly to Mr. Barr to induce him to resign his place—which meant his postponing his marriage indefinitely, if not giving it up. No doubt she thought she was doing her duty. But maybe, seeing the revolver, she feared, as he was a passionate man, he might end his life with it, and it would be partly her fault. Then, afterward, very likely she carried it about on the lonely walks which Maud says she often took."
"Possibly you are right. She could have had it in that hand-bag with her handkerchief and purse. I saw the bag, and her gloves, lying on the table. I thought she had laid them there deliberately before taking her life. I didn't notice then her jewelry being gone, or think about it at all. The look on her face was my punishment—though not enough, not enough! I didn't believe, as others did afterward, that she had seen her assassin after falling. I thought she had looked up, as if to Heaven, with a last prayer for mercy, as she died there alone, knowing herself hated by me, whom she loved; and I think so still. But, when things began to come out at the inquest, I half changed my mind. I fancied that, after all, Ian
