“You forget, sir, that we stand in the presence of the young lady of the house, who, however bowed with grief she may now be, will soon, no doubt, be found equal to her high position.”
“Madame, if your highness alludes to Miss Eudora Leaton, I must beg to say that she cannot be permitted to intermeddle with any of the affairs of the household for the present,” replied the doctor.
The mention of her name in so stern a manner aroused Eudora from her trance of sorrow, and she arose from her knees, and looked around, to see every eye bent on her in doubt, perplexity, and suspicion. While she looked beseechingly from one face to another, as if praying for some explanation of their strange regards, there came a low rap at the door.
The doctor went and softly opened it. And the voice of a servant was heard saying:
“The coroner has arrived, and begs to see you at once, if you please, sir.”
“In good time,” replied the doctor. “Have the police arrived?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Send two of them up to me at once, and say to Coroner Adams, that I will be with him immediately.”
The servant withdrew, and the doctor, returning to the side of the Italian princess, said:
“Madame, will your highness be pleased to retire to your own apartments, as this chamber, with all its other occupants, must be placed in charge of the police.”