“I do not remember anything more,” she added, in a whisper.

For a moment, we all sat silent.  The only portion of her evidence which could in any way help Swain was her discovery of the swaying curtain, and even that, as Goldberger had pointed out, might easily mean nothing.

“Miss Vaughan,” I said, at last, “how long a time elapsed from the moment you left your father in the library until you found him?”

“I don’t know.  Perhaps fifteen minutes.”

“Was he quite dead when you found him?”

“Yes, I—­I think so.”

“Then,” I said to Goldberger, “the murder must have been committed very soon after Miss Vaughan came upstairs.”

“Yes,” agreed Goldberger, in a low tone, “and by somebody who came in from the grounds, since she met no one in the hall and heard no one.”

Miss Vaughan leaned toward him, her hands clasping and unclasping.

“Do you know who it was?” she gasped.  “Have you found out who it was?”

“We suspect who it was,” answered Goldberger gravely.

“Tell me,” she began.

“Wait a minute, Miss Vaughan,” I broke in.  “Tell me, first—­did you hear anyone following you across the garden?”

“Yes,” she answered thoughtfully; “once or twice I fancied that someone was following us.  It seemed to me I heard a step, but when I looked back I saw no one.”

“Did that fact make you uneasy?”

“No,” she said, with a little smile.  “I thought it was Mr. Swain.”

I saw Goldberger’s sudden movement.  I myself could not repress a little shudder.

“You thought that would be the natural thing for Mr. Swain to do, did you not?” the coroner inquired.

“Yes—­I thought he might wish to see me safe.”  Then she stopped, leaning forward in her chair and staring first at Goldberger and then at me.  “What is it?” she whispered, her hands against her heart.  “Oh, what is it?  You don’t mean—­you can’t mean—­oh, tell me!  It isn’t Fred you suspect!  It can’t be Fred!”

It was Dr. Hinman who laid a gentle and quieting hand upon her shoulder, and it was his grave voice which answered her.

“Yes,” he said, “there are some things which seem to implicate Mr. Swain; but both Mr. Lester and I are certain he isn’t guilty.  We’re going to prove it!”

She looked up at him with a grateful smile.

“Thank you!” she gasped.  “I—­wait a moment—­I was silly to give way so.  Of course you will prove it!  It’s absurd!” And then she stopped and looked at Goldberger.  “Do you believe it?” she demanded.

Goldberger flushed a little under her gaze.

“I don’t know what to believe, Miss Vaughan,” he said.  “I’m searching for the truth.”

“So are we all,” I said.  “I am counsel for Mr. Swain, Miss Vaughan, and I have come to you, hoping that your story would help to clear him.”

“Oh, I wish it might!” she cried.