It seemed to me at the time that he was a little unjust--that's all." "Was the gentleman in Lucerne ?" "Oh no!" "In Cincinnati ?" "Yes." "Was his name Stephen Roland ?" Mrs.Brenton again glanced quickly at the newspaper man, and seemed about to say something, but, checking herself, she simply answered-- "Yes." Then she leaned back in the armchair and sighed.
"I am very tired," she said.

"If it is not absolutely necessary, I prefer not to continue this conversation." Stratton immediately rose.
"Madam," he said, "I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to answer my questions, which I am afraid must have seemed impertinent to you, but I assure you that I did not intend them to be so.

Now, madam, I would like very much to get a promise from you.

I wish that you would promise to see me if I call again, and I, on my part, assure you that unless I have something particularly important to tell you, or to ask, I shall not intrude upon you." "I shall be pleased to see you at any time, sir." When the sheriff and the newspaper man reached the other room, the former said-- "Well, what do you think ?" "I think it is an interesting case," was the answer.
"Or, to put it in other words, you think Mrs.Brenton a very interesting lady." "Officially, sir, you have exactly stated my opinion." "And I suppose, poor woman, she will furnish an interesting article for the paper ?" "Hang the paper!" said Stratton, with more than his usual vim.
The sheriff laughed.

Then he said-- "I confess that to me it seems a very perplexing affair all through.
Have you got any light on the subject ?" "My dear sir, I will tell you three important things.