In answer to his inquiry through one of the servants she sent down
word that she would see us immediately in her sitting-room. The
events of the morning had quite naturally upset her, and she was,
if anything, even paler than when we saw her before.

"Mrs. Pitts," began Kennedy, "I suppose you are aware of the
physical condition of your husband?"

It seemed a little abrupt to me at first, but he intended it to
be. "Why," she asked with real alarm, "is he so very badly?"

"Pretty badly," remarked Kennedy mercilessly, observing the effect
of his words. "So badly, I fear, that it would not require much
more excitement like to-day's to bring on an attack of apoplexy. I
should advise you to take especial care of him, Mrs. Pitts."

Following his eyes, I tried to determine whether the agitation of
the woman before us was genuine or not. It certainly looked so.
But then, I knew that she had been an actress before her marriage.
Was she acting a part now?

"What do you mean?" she asked tremulously.

"Mrs. Pitts," replied Kennedy quickly, observing still the play of
emotion on her delicate features, "some one, I believe, either
regularly in or employed in this house or who had a ready means of
access to it must have entered that kitchen last night. For what
purpose, I can leave you to judge. But Sam surprised the intruder
there and was killed for his faithfulness."