He sat like a man stricken by calamity.

He stammered out reluctantly a few words to which Thresk paid little heed.
"You are satisfied then ?" he asked of Pettifer; and Pettifer showed him unexpectedly a cordial and good-humoured face.
"Yes.

Let me say to you, Mr.Thresk, that ever since I began to study this case I have wished less and less to bear hardly upon Mrs.
Ballantyne.

As I read those columns of evidence the heavy figure of Stephen Ballantyne took life again, but a very sinister life; and when I look at Stella and think of what she went through during the years of her married life while we were comfortably here at home I cannot but feel a shiver of discomfort.

Yes, I am satisfied and I am glad that I am satisfied"; and with a smile which suddenly illumined his dry parched face he held out his hand to Henry Thresk.
It was perhaps as well that the questions were over, for even while Pettifer was speaking Stella's voice was heard in the hall.