“This seems incredible.”
“It is true. I know of one family which she visited every week day between August 3d and August 21st. I know several others where she was a regular visitor.”
“You amaze me.”
“She spent a great deal of money in these charities, too. That does not look like the work of a ruined gambler.”
“But how do you account for her association with thieves?”
“I will tell you. Let us suppose a case. You mentioned your nephew.
“Let us suppose that your wife was deeply attached to him. Let us say that after long watching, and years, perhaps, of dark suspicion, she discovered that he was a thief.
“Unwilling to believe any other evidence than that of her own eyes, she follows him. She sees him enter a den of thieves. She learns that he is their leader.”
“Is my nephew, then, the thief?” cried Parks.
“Wait. This is all supposition.