"What is going on? What's the excitement?"
"Suicide!" the young man replied, hastily. "That woman who was mixed up in the Mainwaring case has suicided by poison."
The attorney and the detective exchanged startled glances, then both entered the hotel.
CHAPTER XXIII
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
An hour later, the attorney and the detective reappeared, and, threading their way through the crowd still lingering about the hotel, walked rapidly down the street, arm in arm, conversing in low tones.
"A case of suicide, undoubtedly," said the attorney "and scarcely to be wondered at, taking all the circumstances into consideration. Do you know, I am now more than ever inclined to the belief that she was in some way connected with Hugh Mainwaring's death, and that, after such a revelation of her character as was made in court this morning, she feared further disclosures."
Mr. Whitney glanced at his companion, but the latter seemed engrossed with his own thoughts and made no reply.
"I never was so completely floored in my life," the attorney continued, "as when it came out that Harold Mainwaring was her son; and I yet fail to see the necessity for introducing that feature into the testimony. I should have thought that would have been passed over in silence."