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already said； he would wish to spare her the disgrace which the
taking of his own life would visit upon her； and； more than all；
would desire that she should not be left penniless。 The creditors
would make away with his estate； and his daughter be left a beggar。
We could see but one way of his preventing this； and that was to
insure his life in his daughter's favour。 We instituted inquiries
at the insurance offices； and found that less than a month ago he
had taken out policies in various companies aggregating nearly
fifty thousand dollars； whereas； up to that time； he had been
carrying only two thousand dollars insurance。 Why this sudden and
tremendous increase？ Clearly to provide for his daughter after
his act should have deprived her of his own watchful care。 And now
we can plainly see why he wished his suicide to pass for murder。
He had been insured but a month； and immediate ruin stared him in
the face。 His death must be consummated at once； and yet； by
our law； a man who takes his life before the payment of his second
annual insurance premium relieves the company issuing his policy of
all liability thereunder； and robs his beneficiary of the fund
intended for her。 Here； then； is a sufficient motive； and nothing
more is required to make the whole case perfectly clear。 Of course；
it would be a little more complete if we could find the weapon； but
even without it； there can be no doubt； in the light of our work；
that John Darrow took his own life with the intentions； and for the
purposes； I have already set forth。〃
〃Upon my soul； gentlemen；〃 exclaimed Maitland； 〃you have reasoned
that out well！ Did you carefully read the copies of the various
policies when interrogating the companies insuring Mr。 Darrow？〃
〃Hardly；〃 Osborne replied。 〃We learned from the officials all we
needed to know； and didn't waste any time in gratifying idle
curiosity。〃 A long…drawn 〃hm…m〃 was the only reply Maitland
vouchsafed to this。 〃We regret；〃 said Osborne； addressing Gwen；
〃that our duty； which has compelled us to establish the truth in
this matter； has been the means of depriving you of the insurance
money which your father intended for you。〃 Gwen bowed； and a slight
enigmatical smile played for a moment about her lips； but she made
no other reply； and； as neither Maitland nor I encouraged
conversation； the two officers wished us a good…morning； and left
the house without further remark。
〃I wish to ask you a few questions；〃 Maitland said to Gwen as soon
as the door had closed behind Osborne and his companion； 'and I beg
you will remember that in doing so； however personal my inquiries
may seem； they have but one object in view … the solution of this
mystery。〃 〃I have already had good proof of your singleness of
purpose；〃 she replied。 〃Only too gladly will I give you any
information in my possession。 Until this assassin is found； and my
father's good name freed from the obloquy which has been cast upon
it； my existence will be but a blank； … yes； worse； it will be an
unceasing torment； for I know my father's spirit … if the dead have
power to return to this earth … can never rest with this weight of
shame upon it。〃 As she spoke these words the depth of grief she had
hitherto so well concealed became visible for a moment； and her whole
frame shook as the expression of her emotion reacted upon her。 The
next instant she regained her old composure； and said calmly：
〃You see I have every reason to shed whatever light I can upon this
dark subject。〃
〃Please； then； to answer my questions methodically； and do not permit
yourself to reason why I have asked them。 What was your father's age？〃
〃Sixty…two。〃
〃Did he drink？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did he play cards？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Poker？〃
〃Yes； and several other games。〃
〃Was he as fond of them as of croquet？〃
〃No； nothing pleased him as croquet did … nothing； unless it were
chess。〃
〃Hum！ Do you play chess？〃
〃Yes； I played a good deal with father。〃
〃What kind of a game did he play？〃
〃I do not understand you。 He played a good game； my father did not
enjoy doing anything that he could not do well。〃
〃I mean to ask if his positions were steadily sustained … or if；
on the other hand； his manoeuvres were swift； and what you might
call brilliant。〃
〃I think you would call them brilliant。〃
〃Hum！ How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…two。〃
〃Tell me your relations with your father。〃
〃We were most constant companions。 My mother … she and my father
… they were not altogether companionable … in short； they were
ill…mated； and； being wise enough to find it out； and having no
desire to longer embitter each other's lives； they agreed to
separate when I was only four。 They parted without the slightest
ill…feeling； and I remained with father。 He was very fond of me；
and would permit no one else to teach me。 At seven I was drawing
and painting under his guidance。 At eight the violin was put into
my hands and my studies in voice began。 In the meantime father was
most careful not to neglect my physical training； he taught me the
use of Indian clubs； and how to walk easily。 At eight I could
walk four miles an hour without fatigue。 The neighbours used to
urge that I be put to school； but my father would reply … many a
time I have heard him say it … 'a child's brain is like a flower
that blossoms in perceptions and goes to seed in abstractions。
Correct concepts are the raw material of reason。 Every desk in
your school is an intellectual loom which is expected to weave a
sound fabric out of rotten raw material。 While your children are
wasting their fibre in memorising the antique errors of classical
thought my child is being fitted to perceive new truths for herself。'
It is needless to say his friends considered these views altogether
too radical。 But for all that I was never sent to school。 My
father's library was always at my disposal； and I was taught how
to use it。 We were constantly together； and grew so into each
other's lives that 〃 … but her voice failed her； and her eyes
moistened。 Maitland； though he apparently did not notice her
emotion； so busy was he in making notes； quickly put a question
which diverted her attention。
〃Your father seemed last night to have a presentiment of some
impending calamity。 Was this a common experience？〃
〃Of late； yes。 He has told me some six or seven times of dreaming
the same dreams … a dream in which some assassin struck him out of
the darkness。〃 〃Did you at any of these times notice anything
which might now lead you to believe this fancied repetition was the
result of any mental malady？〃
〃No。〃
〃Was his description of the dreams always the same？〃
〃No； never were they twice alike； save in the one particular of the
unseen assassin。〃
〃Hum！； Did the impression of these dreams remain long with him？〃
〃He never recovered from it； and each dream only accentuated his
assurance that the experience was prophetic。 When once I tried to
dissuade him from this view； he said to me： 'Gwen； it is useless；
I am making no mistake。 When I am gone you will know why I am now
so sure … I cannot tell you now； it would only ' … here he stop