Officer Delaney approached his chief and spoke to him in a low tone. The captain frowned and looked toward his prisoner. Then, turning toward the officer, he said:
"Is the wife downstairs?"
The officer nodded.
"Yes, sir, they just telephoned."
"Then let her come up," said the captain. "She may know something."
Delaney returned to the telephone and Dr. Bernstein turned to the captain:
"Say what you will, captain, I'm not at all sure that Underwood did not do this himself."
"Ain't you? Well, I am," replied the captain with a sneer. Pointing again to Howard, he said:
"This man has just confessed to the shooting."
At that moment the front door opened and Annie Jeffries came in escorted by an officer. She was pale and frightened, and looked timidly at the group of strange and serious-looking men present. Then her eyes went round the room in search of her husband. She saw him seemingly asleep in an armchair, his wrists manacled in front of him. With a frightened exclamation she sprang forward, but Officer Delaney intercepted her. Captain Clinton turned around angrily at the interruption: