Only the open windows, the bitter north-easterly gale, and the heavily falling snow--two silent accomplices, as silent as the dead.
"After that the murderer, with perfect presence of mind, busies himself in the house, doing the work which will ensure that Mrs.Owen shall not be missed, at any rate, for some time.

He dusts and tidies; some few hours later he even slips on his aunt's skirt and bodice, wraps his head in a shawl, and boldly allows those neighbours who are astir to see what they believe to be Mrs.Owen.Then he goes back to her room, resumes his normal appearance and quietly leaves the house." "He may have been seen." "He undoubtedly _was_ seen by two or three people, but no one thought anything of seeing a man leave the house at that hour.

It was very cold, the snow was falling thickly, and as he wore a muffler round the lower part of his face, those who saw him would not undertake to know him again." "That man was never seen nor heard of again ?" Polly asked.
"He has disappeared off the face of the earth.

The police are searching for him, and perhaps some day they will find him--then society will be rid of one of the most ingenious men of the age.".