“Is that the end?” asked Dennis.
“Yes, it is the end.”
With a shade of emphasis, intended by Dennis to indicate that the words of the reply of the widow were suggestive of other finalities which he did not like to consider, he said:
“That is no end; it looks to me as though the author has struck his limits.”
“No,” objected the widow, “I fancy that he has left the subject open so that the reader can solve the riddle in his own way.”
“There is no riddle!” exclaimed Dennis.
“No?” inquired the widow; “and that splendid sapphire, that magnificent diamond to tempt the detective?”
“They will not tempt him,” said Dennis with simple conviction and a degree of feeling that might lead one to suppose that he was an indispensable element in the situation. “He will recollect his professional pride; he will remember that he is a man.”
“Oh!” exclaimed the widow with an indescribable intonation.
“Don’t you think that I am right?” asked Dennis.