"Can't the murderer be found ?" "Not a trace of him can be discovered." "Why do you say 'him.' It might have been a woman." "No," rejoined Basil positively, "no woman could have struck so hard a blow.

Aunt Selina was stabbed to the heart.

She must have been killed as she was rising from her chair, and death, so the doctor says, must have been instantaneous." "Has the weapon been found ?" asked Juliet in a low voice.
Basil turned quickly in his chair, and looked at her sharply.

"No!" he said, "not a sign of any weapon can be found, nor can it be discovered how anyone got into the house.

Though to be sure, she might have admitted her visitor." "Explain! explain," cried Mr.Octagon, ruffling his hair.
"Well, to tell the story in detail," said his step-son, "the way it happened is this.