“Out of the question entirely. He was not in the house. He was in a sleeping car bound for Boston. I only mentioned him to you because I could think of no other way to avoid mentioning my wife.
“And now, gentlemen, do not detain me longer. I have recovered from the first shock of this dreadful news. I must go to her. Guilty or innocent, she is my wife, and I will protect and help her so long as she has need of me.”
All three went at once to Bellevue Hospital.
When they stood beside the motionless and deathlike figure, the grief of the husband was pitiful to see.
He knelt by the bed, and taking his wife’s hand gently in his, he kissed it.
The patient occupied a cot in the accident ward. Several other injured persons were there.
Parks turned to ask Nick whether his wife could be removed from the hospital, but Nick had vanished.
Inspector McLaughlin could not tell where he had gone.
“He seems to be directing everything,” said Parks, “and I wished to ask whether I might take my wife to my house.”
“The surgeon can answer you,” said the inspector, pointing to a white-bearded and venerable man, who at that moment approached the cot.