"At dusk; between five and six o'clock."
Edward Arundel put his hand suddenly to his throat, as if to check some choking sensation that prevented his speaking.
"Olivia," he said, "my wife was last seen by the river–side. Does any one think that, by any unhappy accident, by any terrible fatality, she lost her way after dark, and fell into the water? or that––O God, that would be too horrible!––does any one suspect that she drowned herself?"
"Many things have been said since her disappearance," Olivia Marchmont answered. "Some people say one thing, some another."
"And it has been said that she––that she was drowned?"
"Yes; many people have said so. The river was dragged while Mr. Paulette was here, and after he went away. The men were at work with the drags for more than a week."
"And they found nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Was there any other reason for supposing that––that my wife fell into the river?"
"Only one reason."