Juliet, pushed up against the panelling of the
gallery, caught at a dagger belonging to a trophy of Eastern arms
displayed on the wall, close to her hand, and struck wildly at her
tormentor. The dagger pierced Lady Wing's left breast--she was in
evening dress and _decolletee_; it penetrated to the heart, and she fell
dead at Juliet's feet as her husband entered the gallery. Juliet dropped
the dagger; and as Sir Francis rushed to his wife, she fled shrieking up
the stairs--her white dress covered with blood--to her own room, falling
unconscious before she reached it. She was carried to her room by the
servants--the police were sent for--and the rest--or most of the
rest--you know."
Sir James ceased speaking. A heavy silence possessed the room.
Sir James walked quickly up to his companion.
"Now I ask you to notice two points in the story as I have told it. My
cross-examination of Wing served its purpose as an exposure of the
man--except in one direction. He swore that Mrs. Sparling had made
dishonorable advances to him, and had finally become his mistress, in
order to buy his silence on the trust money and the continuance of his
financial help.
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