Jeffrey's death. Why had no premonition
of its importance as a connecting link between these tragedies and
their mysterious cause come to me at the time when it was within
reach of my hand? It was too late now. It had been swept away with
the other loose objects littering the place, and my opportunity for
pursuing this very promising investigation was gone for the night.
Yet it was with a decided feeling of triumph that I finally locked
the door of this old mansion behind me. Certainly I had taken a
step forward since my entrance there, to which I had but to add
another of equal importance to merit the attention of the
superintendent himself.
XXI
THE HEART OF THE PUZZLE.
The next morning I swallowed my pride and sought out Durbin. He
had superintended the removal of Mrs. Jeffrey's effects from the
southwest chamber, and should know, if any one, where this filigree
ball was now to be found. Doubtless it had been returned with the
other things to Mr. Jeffrey, and yet, who knows? Durbin is sly and
some inkling of its value as a clue may have entered his mind. If
so, it would be anywhere but in Mr. Jeffrey's or Miss Tuttle's
possession.
To test my rival's knowledge of and interest in this seemingly
trivial object, I stooped to what I can but consider a pardonable
subterfuge.
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