Let's
understand each other. I'll go so far as to say I don't believe
that Mrs. Saltonstall had anything to do with that murder, but, as
a business man, I'm bound to say that these circumstances and her
own indiscretion are quite enough to bring the biggest pressure
down on her. I wouldn't want any better 'bear' on the market value
of her rights than this. Take it at its best. Say that the
Coroner's verdict is set aside, and a charge of murder against
unknown parties is made--"
"One moment, Mr. Prince," said Carroll. "I shall be one of the
first to insist that this is done, and I have confidence enough in
Mrs. Saltonstall's honest friendship for the Doctor to know that
she will lose no time in pursuing his murderers."
Prince looked at Carroll with a feeling of half envy and half pity.
"I think not," he said, dryly; "for all suspicion points to one man
as the perpetrator, and that man was Mrs. Saltonstall's
confidential servant--the mayordomo, Pereo." He waited for a
moment for the effect of this announcement on Carroll, and then
went on: "You now understand that, even if Mrs. Saltonstall is
acquitted of any connivance with or even knowledge of the deed, she
will hardly enjoy the prosecution of her confidential servant for
murder."
"But how can this be prevented? If, as you say, there are actual
proofs, why have they not been acted upon before? What can keep
them from being acted upon now?"
"The proofs have been collected by one man, have been in possession
of one man, and will only pass out of his possession when it is for
the benefit of the legal heir--who does not yet even know of their
existence.
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