Startled, for a hand had appeared over my shoulder dangling a pair of gloves before my eyes, I cried out, somewhat too triumphantly I own:
“Yes, yes, just like those! Did you pick them up here? Are they hers?”
“You say that this is the way hers should look.”
“And I repeat it.”
“Then allow me to pay you my compliments. These were picked up here.”
“But where?” I cried. “I thought I had looked this carpet well over.”
He smiled, not at me but at the gloves, and the thought crossed me that he felt as if something more than the gloves was being turned inside out. I therefore pursed my mouth, and determined to stand more on my guard.
“It is of no consequence,” I assured him; “all such matters will come out at the inquest.”
Mr. Gryce nodded, and put the gloves back in his pocket. With them he seemed to pocket some of his geniality and patience.
“All these facts have been gone over before you came in,” said he, which statement I beg to consider as open to doubt.
The doctor, who had hardly moved a muscle during all this colloquy, now rose from his kneeling position beside the girl’s head.
“I shall have to ask the presence of another physician,” said he. “Will you send for one from your office, Coroner Dahl?”
At which I stepped back and the Coroner stepped forward, saying, however, as he passed me:
“The inquest will be held day after tomorrow in my office. Hold yourself in readiness to be present. I regard you as one of my chief witnesses.”
I assured him I would be on hand, and, obeying a gesture of his finger, retreated from the room; but I did not yet leave the house. A straight, slim man, with a very small head but a very bright eye, was leaning on the newel-post in the front hall, and when he saw me, started up so alertly I perceived that he had business with me, and so waited for him to speak.
“You are Miss Butterworth?” he inquired.
“I am, sir.”
“And I am a reporter from the New York World. Will you allow me—”
Why did he stop? I had merely looked at him. But he did stop, and that is saying considerable for a reporter from the New York World.
“I certainly am willing to tell you what I have told every one else,” I interposed, considering it better not to make an enemy of so judicious a young man; and seeing him brighten up at this, I thereupon related all I considered desirable for the general public to know.
I was about passing on, when, reflecting that one good turn deserves another, I paused and asked him if he thought they would leave the dead girl in that house all night.
He answered that he did not think they would. That a telegram had been sent some time before to young Mr. Van Burnam, and that they were only awaiting his arrival to remove her.
“Do you mean Howard?” I asked.
“Is he the elder one?”
“No.”