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I had been
wondering somewhat at the meagre newspaper reports of the
inquest. No mention was made, as I had nervously anticipated, of
the mysterious lady for whom the deceased had bought a ticket at
Alexandretta, and with whom he had come ashore. Very little
evidence appeared to have been taken, and the jury contented
themselves with giving the usual verdict of temporary insanity.
I touched on this as delicately as I could.
"We succeeded in hushing things up," said my visitor, an old man
with iron-grey whiskers and a careworn sensitive face. "I have
some influence myself, and his wife's relations--"
"His wife!" I ejaculated. The ways of men are further than ever
from interpretation. The fellow was actually married!
"Yes," he sighed. "That is what would have made such a terrible
scandal. Her relatives are powerful people. We averted it,
thank Heaven, and his poor wife will never know. My boy is dead.
No public investigation into motives would bring him back to life
again."
I murmured words of condolence.


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