pocket a magnifying-glass which he adjusted. When he had made a careful examination he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass to Dolan, saying as he did so: 

 “You had better examine it yourself. That is no ordinary bangle. The gold is wrought over triple steel links; see where it is worn away. It is manifestly not meant to be removed lightly; and it would need more than an ordinary file to do it.” 

 The Superintendent bent his great body; but not getting close enough that way knelt down by the sofa as the Doctor had done. He examined the bangle minutely, turning it slowly round so that no particle of it escaped observation. Then he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass to me.  “When you have examined it yourself,” he said, “let the lady look at it if she will,” and he commenced to write at length in his notebook. 

 I made a simple alteration in his suggestion. I held out the glass toward Miss Trelawny, saying: 

 “Had you not better examine it first?”  She drew back, slightly raising her hand in disclaimer, as she said impulsively: 

 “Oh no! Father would doubtless have shown it to me had he wished me to see it. I would not like to without his consent.”  Then she added, doubtless fearing lest her delicacy of view should give offence to the rest of us: 

 “Of course it is right that you should see it. You have to examine and consider everything; and indeed—indeed I am grateful to you...” 

 She turned away; I could see that she was crying quietly. It was evident to me that even in the midst of her trouble and anxiety there was a chagrin that she knew so little of her father; and that her ignorance had to be shown at such a time and amongst so many strangers. That they were all men did not make the shame more easy to bear, though there was a certain relief in it. Trying to interpret her feelings I could not but think that she must have been glad that no woman’s eyes—of understanding greater than man’s—were upon her in that hour. 

 When I stood up from my examination, which verified to me that of the Doctor, the latter resumed his place beside the couch and went on with his ministrations. Superintendent Dolan said to me in a whisper: 

 “I think we are fortunate in our doctor!” I nodded, and was about to add something in praise of his acumen, when there came a low tapping at the door. 

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