by a mere lover's quarrel with his wife.

Did the same thought strike my companion? I can not say; I can only
give you his next words.

"You have said that your wife would not be likely to end her life
in presence of any one but yourself. Yet you must see that some one
was with her. How do you propose to reconcile your assertions with
a fact so undeniable?"

"I can not reconcile them. It would madden me to try. If I thought
any one was with her at that moment -"

"Well?"

Mr. Jeffrey's eyes fell; and a startling change passed over him.
But before either of us could make out just what this change
betokened he recovered his aspect of fixed melancholy and quietly
remarked:

"It is dreadful to think of her standing there alone, aiming a pistol
at her young, passionate heart; but it is worse to picture her doing
this under the gaze of unsympathizing eyes. I can not and will not
so picture her. You have been misled by appearances or what in
police parlance is called a clue."

Evidently he did not mean to admit the possibility of the pistol
having been fired by any other hand than her own. This the coroner
noted. Bowing with the respect he showed every man before a jury
had decided upon his guilt, he turned toward the door out of which