"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. First, Mrs. Brenton is innocent. Second, her lawyers are taking the wrong line of defence. Third," tapping his breast-pocket, "I have the name of the murderer in my note-book." CHAPTER VIII.