learned. John Steele studied the nobleman with a purpose of his own.
"Why, she killed herself," he said suddenly.

"How?" The nobleman uttered this word, then stopped; John Steele waited.
Had Lord Ronsdale been surprised at his knowledge? He could hardly tell,
from his manner, whether or not he had the affidavit and had read it.

"How--interesting!" The nobleman was willing to continue the verbal
contest a little longer; that seemed a point gained. "May I ask how it
occurred?"

"Oh, it is all very commonplace! Your lordship had received a
threatening letter and called on the woman. She wanted money; you
refused. She already had a husband living in France, a ruined gambler of
the Bourse, but had tricked you into thinking she was your wife. You had
discovered the deception and discarded her. From a music-hall singer she
had gone down--down, until she, once beautiful, courted, had become a
mere--what she was, associate of one like Dandy Joe, cunning,
unscrupulous. At your refusal to become the victim of their blackmailing
scheme, she in her anger seized a weapon; during the struggle, it was
accidentally discharged."

Was Lord Ronsdale asking himself how the other had learned this? If
Rogers had escaped with the paper, John Steele knew Ronsdale might well
wonder that the actual truth should have been discovered; he would not,
under those circumstances, even be aware of the existence of a witness
of the tragedy. But was Lord Ronsdale assuming a manner, meeting
subtlety with subtlety? John Steele went on quietly, studying his enemy
with close, attentive gaze.