"He's a _man_, that's what James Darcy is!" Amy's father had said, when
some one hinted that he had neither wealth nor family of which to
boast. "He's a _man_! He's got all the family he needs. What's a
family good for, anyhow, after you're grown up? As for money, I've got
more than I need, and Amy's got a little nest-egg of her own. Besides,
Darcy can earn his living, which is a hanged sight more than some of
these dancing lizards can do if they were put to it."

It developed that the words over Amy which had occurred, just before
the murder, between James Darcy and his cousin, had to do with the
difference in the worldly prospects of the two young people. Mrs.
Darcy had rather laughed at him, James said, for thinking of marrying a
girl so much wealthier than he was.

"What did you tell her?" asked Carroll. "I mean your cousin."

"I told her I could support my wife decently well, if not in such state
as that to which she was accustomed in her father's house. As for
style, neither Miss Mason nor I care for it. And, if things go right,
I may be able to bring her as much wealth as she has herself."

"How do you mean if things go right?" asked the detective.

"Well, if I can perfect the electric lathe I am trying to patent," was
the answer.

"Oh, so that's what King heard about an electric lathe?"

"I suppose so. It's no great secret. I've been working on it for some
time, but my cousin objected to my spending my time that way. She