“See! several parallel cuts or scratches beginning on the left side of the wrist and in some places endangering the radial artery.

“These small wounds here, deep and jagged, seem as if made with a blunt instrument.  This in particular would seem as if made with some kind of sharp wedge; the flesh round it seems torn as if with lateral pressure.”

Turning to Miss Trelawny he said presently: 

“Do you think we might remove this bangle?  It is not absolutely necessary, as it will fall lower on the wrist where it can hang loosely; but it might add to the patient’s comfort later on.”  The poor girl flushed deeply as she answered in a low voice: 

“I do not know.  I—­I have only recently come to live with my Father; and I know so little of his life or his ideas that I fear I can hardly judge in such a matter.  The Doctor, after a keen glance at her, said in a very kindly way: 

“Forgive me!  I did not know.  But in any case you need not be distressed.  It is not required at present to move it.  Were it so I should do so at once on my own responsibility.  If it be necessary later on, we can easily remove it with a file.  Your Father doubtless has some object in keeping it as it is.  See! there is a tiny key attached to it. . . .”  As he was speaking he stopped and bent lower, taking from my hand the candle which I held and lowering it till its light fell on the bangle.  Then motioning me to hold the candle in the same position, he took from his pocket a magnifying-glass which he adjusted.  When he had made a careful examination he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass to Dolan, saying as he did so: 

“You had better examine it yourself.  That is no ordinary bangle.  The gold is wrought over triple steel links; see where it is worn away.  It is manifestly not meant to be removed lightly; and it would need more than an ordinary file to do it.”

The Superintendent bent his great body; but not getting close enough that way knelt down by the sofa as the Doctor had done.  He examined the bangle minutely, turning it slowly round so that no particle of it escaped observation.  Then he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass to me.  “When you have examined it yourself,” he said, “let the lady look at it if she will,” and he commenced to write at length in his notebook.

I made a simple alteration in his suggestion.  I held out the glass toward Miss Trelawny, saying: 

“Had you not better examine it first?” She drew back, slightly raising her hand in disclaimer, as she said impulsively: 

“Oh no!  Father would doubtless have shown it to me had he wished me to see it.  I would not like to without his consent.”  Then she added, doubtless fearing lest her delicacy of view should give offence to the rest of us: 

“Of course it is right that you should see it.  You have to examine and consider everything; and indeed—­indeed I am grateful to you. . .”