I'd only ask you not to worry Mrs. Douglas over this matter;
for she has enough upon her just now. I may tell you that poor
Douglas had just one fault in the world, and that was his
jealousy. He was fond of me--no man could be fonder of a friend.
And he was devoted to his wife. He loved me to come here, and
was forever sending for me. And yet if his wife and I talked
together or there seemed any sympathy between us, a kind of wave
of jealousy would pass over him, and he would be off the handle
and saying the wildest things in a moment. More than once I've
sworn off coming for that reason, and then he would write me such
penitent, imploring letters that I just had to. But you can take
it from me, gentlemen, if it was my last word, that no man ever
had a more loving, faithful wife--and I can say also no friend
could be more loyal than I!"
It was spoken with fervour and feeling, and yet Inspector
MacDonald could not dismiss the subject.
"You are aware," said he, "that the dead man's wedding ring has
been taken from his finger?"
"So it appears," said Barker.
"What do you mean by 'appears'? You know it as a fact.
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