"That she is an entirely unscrupulous woman, and would stand at nothing, I feel sure," spoke Dr. Rane, drawing a deep breath. "But, as to the letter----"
"Well, as to the letter?" cried the surgeon, in the pause. "I don't say she foresaw that it would kill him."
"This would disprove your theory of its being written to damage you, Alexander."
"Not altogether. The damaging another, more or less, would be of no moment at all to Mrs. North; she would crush any one without scruple."
"I'm sure she would crush me," spoke Dr. Rane. "Heaven knows why; I don't."
"Well, if she did write the letter, I think her conscience must smite her as she looks at the poor dead man lying there. Good-day, Rane: I have not been home to see my little ones yet. Mrs. Alexander is remaining in town for a day or two."
In talking, they had walked slowly to the end of the avenue; Mr. Alexander passed through the gates, and took the road towards the Ham.
"I may as well go on at once, and see Ketler," thought Dr. Rane. "Time enough to call at the Hall as I return."
So he went on towards Dallory. Two gentlemen passed him on horseback, county magistrates, who were probably going to the Hall. The sight of them turned his thoughts to the subject of an inquest: he began speculating why Mr. North wished to evade it, and whether he would succeed in doing so. For his own part, he did not see that the case, speaking in point of law, called for one. Hepburn said it did; and he was supposed, as chief undertaker in Dallory, to understand these things.
Deep in reflection, the doctor strode on; when, in passing Mrs. Gass's house, a sharp tapping at the window saluted his ear. It came from that lady herself, and she threw up the sash.