That seems very remarkable."
Again Barker showed some signs of indecision. "I don't see that
it was remarkable, Mr. Holmes," he answered after a pause. "The
candle threw a very bad light. My first thought was to get a
better one. The lamp was on the table; so I lit it."
"And blew out the candle?"
"Exactly."
Holmes asked no further question, and Barker, with a deliberate
look from one to the other of us, which had, as it seemed to me,
something of defiance in it, turned and left the room.
Inspector MacDonald had sent up a note to the effect that he
would wait upon Mrs. Douglas in her room; but she had replied
that she would meet us in the dining room. She entered now, a
tall and beautiful woman of thirty, reserved and self-possessed
to a remarkable degree, very different from the tragic and
distracted figure I had pictured. It is true that her face was
pale and drawn, like that of one who has endured a great shock;
but her manner was composed, and the finely moulded hand which
she rested upon the edge of the table was as steady as my own.
Her sad, appealing eyes travelled from one to the other of us
with a curiously inquisitive expression.
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