the responsibility, and gave the orders." "But you have admitted that you did not wish this?" "Do we always have our wishes gratified in this world?" The detective, watching the man's face closely, again noted that expression of weariness cross his features, and an instinctive feeling of pity was aroused. Once more the skein became more entangled. His own suspicion against Mark Quadrant rested upon the supposition that the act was committed with the intent of making capital out of it with the widow, and was based upon the theory that Amos wished to have his brother incinerated. If now it should transpire that after all it was Amos who managed the affair, his motive was a higher one, for, while appearing to carry out the wishes of his deceased brother, he must have aimed to gratify the widow, without admitting her to the knowledge that his hand had gained her purpose. This was a [Pg 79] higher, nobler love. Was Amos Quadrant of this noble mould? The question crossing the detective's mind met a startling answer which prompted Mr. Barnes to ask suddenly: [Pg 79] "Is it true that, speaking of this cremation, you said: 'Let him burn; he'll burn in hell anyway'?" Amos Quadrant flushed deeply, and his face grew stern as he answered: "I presume you have witnesses who heard the words, therefore it would be futile to deny it. It was a brutal remark, but I made it. I was exasperated by something which Mark had said, and replied in anger." "It is a sound doctrine, Mr. Quadrant," said the detective, "that words spoken in anger often more truly represent the speaker's feelings than what he says when his tongue is bridled." "Well?" "If we take this view, then it is apparent that you did not hold a very high regard for your brother." "That is quite true. Why should I?" "He was your brother." "And because of the accident of birth, I was bound to love him? A popular fallacy, Mr. Barnes. He was equally bound, then, to love me, but he did not. Indeed he wronged me most grievously." "By marrying the woman you loved?"
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