CHAPTER XX.

THE SEARCH.

My friends, I care not, (so much I am happy
Above a number,) if my actions
Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them,
Envy and base opinion set against them,
To know my life so even.—Shakspeare.

And first they went to Mrs. Blondelle’s room, and carefully examined every part of it, especially the fastenings of the doors and windows. They all seemed to be right.

“I have a theory of this murder now!” said Mr. Berners, standing in the middle of the room and speaking to the men who were with him.

“Humph! what is it?” coldly inquired old Judge Basham.

“It is this; that as Mrs. Blondelle was known to have possessed jewels of great value, some miscreant came here with the intention to rob her of them.”

“Well, and what then?” asked the Judge.

“That this miscreant entered either by the outer door, or by one of these windows, approached the bed of his victim, who, being awake and seeing him, shrieked, either before or at the moment of receiving the death wound, and then fainted.”

“Humph! what next?” grunted the Judge.