“Have you the slightest conception of what will happen if the Home Secretary accedes to your request, Mr. Garlett?” The words were uttered gravely and kindly.
“Do you realize that it will be impossible for the fact of the exhumation of your wife’s body to be concealed from the press—not only the local press, mind you, but the press of the whole country?”
“Yes, I do realize that. In fact, everything to be said against an exhumation has been put to me, and very strongly, by Dr. Maclean.”
“Then why not let the matter rest for the present?” interposed Dr. Wilson. “While it is obviously impossible for us to give you any promise, unofficially we can assure you that the matter is closed, and that only in the case of real evidence of foul play would it be reopened.”
Mr. Braithwaite chimed in: “Forgive me for alluding to your private affairs, but may I say that what you are now asking us to do may be a very grave matter for the lady who is going to be your wife, Mr. Garlett?”
“We talked it over last evening, and I left the final decision to her. So you see that it is her wish as well as mine that the matter should be laid to rest for ever in the only way it can be laid to rest.”
And then, speaking with deep feeling, he exclaimed:
“Put yourselves in my place! Think what you would feel”—he looked from one to the other of the men who were confronting him—“if you were situated as I am situated. Would you not do everything in your power to put an end, once for all, to so horrible, so hideous a suspicion?”
“I wonder if I should,” said Mr. Braithwaite musingly. “Honestly, I don’t feel at all sure!”
He waited a moment.