"You knew she was dead, then?"

"I felt her to be so."

"How felt?"

"I was sure--I never questioned it."

"You have seen women in a faint?"

"Yes, many times."

"What made the difference? Why should you believe Miss Challoner
dead simply because she lay still and apparently lifeless?"

"I cannot tell you. Possibly, death tells its own story. I only
know how I felt."

"Perhaps there was another reason? Perhaps, that, consciously or
unconsciously, you laid your palm upon her heart?"

Miss Clarke started, and her sweet face showed a moment's perplexity.

"Did I?" she queried, musingly. Then with a sudden access of
feeling, "I may have done so, indeed, I believe I did. My arms
were around her; it would not have been an unnatural action."

"No; a very natural one, I should say. Cannot you tell me
positively whether you did this or not?"