It is purely a matter of taste." "It may be a matter of discretion, Captain Carroll." "Of discretion!" repeated Carroll, superciliously.
"Well," said Prince, leaving his desk and coming to the fire-place, with his hands in his pockets, "what would you call it, if it could be found that Dr.West, on leaving Mrs.Saltonstall's that night, did not meet with an accident, was not thrown from his horse, but was coolly and deliberately murdered!" Captain Carroll's swift recollection of the discovery he himself had made in the road, and its inconsistency with the accepted theory of the accident, unmistakably showed itself in his face.

It was a moment before he recovered himself.
"But even if it can be proved to have been a murder and not an accident, what has that to do with Mrs.Saltonstall or her claim to the property ?" "Only that she was the one person directly benefited by his death." Captain Carroll looked at him steadily, and then rose to his feet.

"Do I understand that you have called me here to listen to this infamous aspersion of a lady ?" "I have called you here, Captain Carroll, to listen to the arguments that may be used to set aside Dr.West's will, and return the property to the legal heir.

You are to listen to them or not, as you choose; but I warn you that your opportunity to hear them in confidence and convey them to your friend will end here.

I have no opinion in the case.