her. The pink velvet--the soft green of the curtains on either
side--her brilliants--and the snow for a background! Yes, the
murderer came in that way. Her figure would be plain to any one
outside, and if she moved and the diamond shone--Don't you see
what a probable theory it is? There must be ways by which a
desperate man might reach that balcony. I believe--"

How eager he was and with what a look he turned when the word
came filtering through the crowd that, though footsteps had been
found in the snow pointing directly toward the balcony, there was
none on the balcony itself, proving, as any one could see, that
the attack had not come from without, since no one could enter
the alcove by the window without stepping on the balcony.

"Mr. Durand has suspicions of his own," I explained determinedly
to myself. "He met some one going in as he stepped out. Shall I
ask him to name this person?" No, I did not have the courage; not
while his face wore so stern a look and was so resolutely turned
away.

The next excitement was a request from Mr. Ramsdell for us all to
go into the drawing-room. This led to various cries from
hysterical lips, such as, "We are going to be searched!" " He
believes the thief and murderer to be still in the house!" "Do
you see the diamond on me?" "Why don't they confine their
suspicions to the favored few who were admitted to the alcove?"

"They will," remarked some one close to my ear.

But quickly as I turned I could not guess from whom the comment