“Are you not wholly satisfied?” he asked.
“I can’t answer that question.” Professor Dillard spoke almost curtly. “You have no right to ask me. I merely wanted to be sure that the authorities, having all the data in their hands, were convinced that this terrible affair was a closed book.” A look of deep concern came over his face. “If I knew that to be a fact, it would help me to repulse the vague misgivings that have haunted me day and night for the past week.”
“And if I were to say that I am not satisfied?”
The old professor’s eyes took on a distant, distressed look. His head fell slightly forward, as if some burden of sorrow had suddenly weighed him down. After several moments he lifted his shoulders and drew a deep breath.
“The most difficult thing in this world,” he said, “is to know where one’s duty lies; for duty is a mechanism of the mind, and the heart is forever stepping in and playing havoc with one’s resolutions. Perhaps I did wrong to ask you here; for, after all, I have only misty suspicions and nebulous ideas to go on. But there was the possibility that my mental uneasiness was based on some deep hidden foundation of whose existence I was unaware. . . . Do you see what I mean?” Evasive as were his words, there was no doubt as to the disturbing mien of the shadowy image that lurked at the back of his mind.
Markham nodded sympathetically.
“There is no reason whatever to question the findings of the Medical Examiner.” He made the statement in a forced matter-of-fact voice. “I can understand how the proximity of these tragedies might have created an atmosphere conducive to doubts. But I think you need have no further misgivings.”
“I sincerely hope you’re right,” the professor murmured; but it was clear he was not satisfied. “Suppose, Markham——” he began, and then stopped. “Yes, I hope you’re right,” he repeated.
Vance had sat through this unsatisfactory discussion smoking placidly; but he had been listening with unwonted concentration, and now he spoke.
“Tell me, Professor Dillard, if there has been anything—no matter how indefinite—that may have given birth to your uncertainty.”