CHAPTER VII
A Tigbtening Coil
THE horizon was grey with the coming dawn, but it was still too dark on the pier to see anything distinctly, so they went slowly back together to the boathouse.
“Was t’e necklace a valuable one?” asked the coroner, as he closed the door.
“It was worth over a hundred thousand dollars,” answered Delroy, and explained briefly the purpose of the immersion.
“How many persons were aware of your intention to put it in t’e water out here?” asked Heffelbower, when he had finished.
Delroy hesitated.
“So far as I know,” he answered slowly, at last, “only myself, my wife, her sister, Miss Croydon, Drysdale, Tremaine, and the two Grahams.”
“Tremaine?” repeated the coroner. “I don’t t’ink you have mentioned him.”
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is Mr. Tremaine, Mr. Heffelbower, a friend of mine, who is staying with me.”
The coroner bowed, but he shot Tremaine a sharp glance which did not escape Delroy’s notice.
“You will understand, Mr. Heffelbower,” he added quickly, “I believe the crime was committed by some-
190
