confusion. By that time a policeman had arrived, and soon after
O'Connor and the coroner had come.

There was little use in cross-questioning the couple. They had
evidently had time to agree on the story; that is, supposing it
were not true. Only a scientific third degree could have shaken
them, and such a thing was impossible just at that time.

From the line of Kennedy's questions I could see that he believed
that there was a hiatus somewhere in their glib story, at least
some point where some one had tried to eradicate the marks of the
poison.

"Here it is. We found it," interrupted O'Connor, holding up in his
excitement a bottle covered with black cloth to protect it from
the light. "It was in the back of a cabinet in the operating-room,
and it is marked 'Ether phosphore".' Another of oil of turpentine
was on a shelf in another cabinet. Both seem to have been used
lately, judging by the wetness of the bottoms of the glass
stoppers."

"Ether phosphore, phosphorated ether," commented Kennedy, reading
the label to himself. "A remedy from the French Codex, composed,
if I remember rightly, of one part phosphorus and fifty parts
sulphuric ether. Phosphorus is often given as a remedy for loss of
nerve power, neuralgia, hysteria, and melancholia. In quantities
from a fiftieth to a tenth or so of a grain free phosphorus is a
renovator of nerve tissue and nerve force, a drug for intense and
long-sustained anxiety of mind and protracted emotional
excitement--in short, for fast living."