“Do your best, doctor.  I am willing to foot the bill, no matter what it is.”

“If I was certain she was innocent—­”

“I am certain of it.”

“You have the proofs?”

“No, not that.  But—­”

“I understand your situation, Mr. Case, and I honor you for the stand you have taken.  At the same time I feel it my duty to tell you something.  It is about a case that came under my notice three years ago.  An old man was murdered and his wife was suspected of the crime.  She declared that she was innocent and many believed her.  But soon the evidence began to accumulate against her and she had the same kind of a shock that Miss Langmore has experienced.  She raved and at last cried out that she was guilty—­”

“And was she guilty?”

“It was never proven, although matters looked black against her.  The case hung fire because the old woman kept growing worse.  The doctors who were in attendance did all that medical science could suggest to bring the old woman out of her peculiar state.  But it was of no avail.”

“And the end, doctor, the end?” questioned the young man eagerly.

“It’s a sorry thing to tell you, but it is best to be warned.  The old woman went mad and while in that condition she one night committed suicide by leaping out of a window.  It is a sad case but it may act as a warning.  Someone must be on hand to watch Miss Langmore constantly.”

A long conversation followed, and the specialist gave minute direction to the nurse, who promised to get another nurse to relieve her.  Then the medical man mixed up several drugs and placed the mixture in a glass with some water.

The talk left Raymond in low spirits and the young man walked up and down in the parlor below in a thoughtful mood.  The outlook was certainly gloomy enough.  What if the shock should prove so severe that Margaret would never get over it?  In that case it would matter little even if her innocence was established.

In the midst of his meditations he saw a man come up on the porch and he opened the door to admit Adam Adams and ushered the detective in the parlor.

“I understand Miss Langmore was brought here,” said Adam Adams, dropping into a chair.

“Yes,” and Raymond told his story.  “We looked for you at the trial,” he added.

“I had other things to do, Mr. Case, and I read the most of the testimony in the newspapers.  But I am sorry to learn that Miss Langmore is in this condition and I trust the specialist pulls her through in good shape.”

“Yes, yes, so do I. But we must clear her, Mr. Adams—­it must be done.”

“I said I would do my best.  But this is going to be no ordinary mystery to unravel.  It is deeper than most folks suspect.  A deep motive was the cause of the double murder—­a motive I hope to unearth before I am through.”

“Unless the mystery is speedily cleared up I am afraid Miss Langmore will go raving mad, and the specialist is afraid so, too.”