“Heaven only knows! I know that he had no supply of money of his own. He has confessed as much to me. I have known of several occasions when he has obtained money from her. I know them only by implication, of course, but I am as certain of the facts as if I had witnessed the transactions. And I do know positively of one occasion when Mercedes gave him a thousand dollars. She said it was a loan when I upbraided her for it, but I know that he never returned it, and that he never intended to do so.”
“How old a man was Orizaba?”
“He was thirty last Sunday.”
“Now, Danton, pay strict attention to the next few questions.”
“All right. I’m ready.”
“It is impossible that Orizaba should have killed himself, is it not?”
“Absolutely so, under the circumstances, since the handle of Cadillac’s needle was returned to its place.”
“You are equally positive that you did not kill him?”
“Unless I did so in my sleep, and am therefore entirely unconscious of the act. I know that I did not touch him.”
“And you are equally sure that he was dead? You are positive that in your dazed condition you could not have been mistaken?”