"Purposely?"

"Accidentally, it is believed. I should not like to say myself.
Anyway, she was found dead this morning."

"Very sad. A singularly handsome woman. I presume she was a
friend of yours, since you are acquainted with all these
details."

"I am acquainted with the details because--well, it was I who
found her dead."

"Indeed," said the doctor, starting.

"Yes," said Sir James, and stroked his chin reflectively.

"This is very sad news, but you will excuse me if I say that I do
not see how it bears on the subject of your inquiry?"

"It bears on it in this way, is it not a fact that Mrs.
Vandemeyer committed a young relative of hers to your charge?"

Julius leaned forward eagerly.

"That is the case," said the doctor quietly.

"Under the name of----?"

"Janet Vandemeyer. I understood her to be a niece of Mrs.