“And thereby sealed her own fate,” added the Colonel solemnly.
“Do you really think that supernatural means caused her death?” asked the coroner incredulously.
“It seems to be either that or suicide.”
“From what I hear I incline to the latter theory,” acknowledged Dr. Penfield. “I don’t take much stock in ghosts or other hallucinations, Colonel, with all due respect to you, sir. Will you be so kind as to ask your cousin, Mrs. Truxton, to step here for a few minutes?”
On being summoned by Colonel Thornton, Mrs. Truxton hastened into the library. Her statements added nothing to what the coroner already knew, and she was quickly excused and Eleanor Thornton sent for.
Douglas had not seen her since carrying her to her room some hours before, and he was shocked by her appearance. “My precious darling!” he murmured in a tone which reached her ear alone as he opened the library door to admit her. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
She shook her head and smiled at him, a smile which hurt him woefully, for it showed the effort it cost her. Dr. Penfield, struck by her beauty, which was enhanced by her unnaturally flushed cheeks and the dark shadows under her large eyes, rose and pulled forward a chair for her use.
“I won’t detain you long, Miss Thornton,” he commenced, reseating himself. “Did you know your maid was sleeping in the southwest chamber?”