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intention to kill him。 But having waited to see if he would move again； and seeing that he did not； but lay as he had fallen； then and only then I refrained from firing it any more and left the place。
I had myself returned to my own home in the same taxi that had brought me。 Within a short time after； I became extremely ill from the excitement and strain I had undergone。 And now； knowing that I am dying； and being in full possession of my faculties and with full realization of what I am doing； I wish to make this statement before I pass away and have it； in the case of wrongful accusation of others； should that occur； brought to the attention of those duly constituted to deal with the matter。 But only in such case； not otherwise。
（Signed） Grace Parmentier Hazzard。
（Witnessed and attested）
Tyrus Winthrop； Att'y at Law。〃
She reached the downstairs doorway with it too late。 The doorway was empty by the time she swayed that far； and clung there； all dazed and disheveled。 They'd gone； and he'd gone with them。
She just stood there in the doorway。 Empty in an empty doorway。
48
And then； there he was at last。
He was so very real； so photographically real down there； that paradoxically； she couldn't quite believe she was seeing him。 The very herringbone weave of his coat stood out； as if a magnifying glass were being held to the pattern； for her special inspection。 The haggardness of his face； the faint trace of shadow where he needed a shave； she could see everything about him so clearly； as if he were much nearer than he was。 Fatigue； maybe； did that； by some reverse process of concentration。 Or eyes dilated from long straining to see him； so that now they saw him with abnormal clarity。
Anyway； there he was。
He turned； and came in toward the house。 And just before he took the final step that would have carried him too far in under her to be in sight any more； his eyes went up to the window and he saw her。
〃Bill；〃 she said silently through the glass； and her two hands flattened to the pane； as if framing the unheard word into a benediction。
〃Patrice；〃 he said silently； from down below； and though she didn't hear him； didn't even see his lips move； she knew that was what he said。 Just her name。 So little； so much。
Suddenly she'd fled from the room as madly as though she'd just been scalded。 The upflung curtain settled down again to true； and the backflung door ricocheted back again toward closure； and she was already gone。 The baby's wondering head turned after her far too slowly to catch her in her sight
Then she stopped short again； below the turn of the stairs； and waited for him there； unable to move any further。 Stood waiting for him to e to her。
He left his hat； just as though this were any other time he was returning home； and came on up to where she was standing。 And somehow her head； as if it were tired of being all alone； went down upon his shoulder and stayed there against his own。
They didn't speak at first Just stood there pressed together； heads close。 There was no message； there was only…being together。
〃I'm back； Patrice；〃 was all he said at last。
She shuddered a little and nestled closer。 〃Bill； now what will they…？〃
〃Nothing。 It's over。 It's already through。 At least； as far as I'm concerned。 That was just for purposes of identification。 I had to go with them and look at him； that was all。〃
〃Bill； I opened this。 She says…〃
She gave it to him。 He read it。
〃Did you show it to anyone else？〃
〃No。〃
〃Don't〃 He tore it once across； and stuffed the remnants into his pocket。
〃But suppose…？〃
〃It's not needed。 His gambler…friends are already down on the books for it； by this time。 They told me they found evidence to indicate that a big card…game had taken place up there earlier that night。〃
〃I didn't see any。〃
He gave her an eloquent look。 〃They did。 By the time they got there。〃
She widened her eyes a little at him。
〃They're willing to let it go at that So let us let it go at that too； Patrice。〃 He sighed heavily。 〃I'm all…in。 Feel like I've been on my feet for a week straight。 I'd like to sleep forever。〃
〃Not forever； Bill； not forever。 Because I'll be waiting around； and that would be so long…〃
His lips sought the side of her face； and he kissed her with a sort of blind stupefaction。
〃Walk me up as far as the door of my room； Patrice。 Like to take a look at the youngster； before I turn in。〃
His arm slipped wearily around her waist。
〃Our youngster from now on；〃 he added softly。
49
〃Mr。 William Hazzard was married yesterday to Mrs。 Patrice Hazzard； widow of the late Hugh Hazzard； at a quiet ceremony at St。 Bartholomew's Episcopal Church； in this city； performed by the Reverend Francis Allgood。 There were no attendants。 Following their marriage Mr。 and Mrs。 Hazzard left immediately for a honeymoon trip through the Canadian Rockies。〃…All Caulfield morning and evening newspapers。
50
When the reading of the will had been concluded…that was on a Monday following their return； about a month later…Winthrop asked the two of them to remain behind a moment after the room had been cleared。 He went over and closed the door after the others present had left。 Then he went to the wall； opened a built…in safe； and took out an envelope。 He sat down at his desk。
〃Bill and Patrice；〃 he said； 〃this is meant for you alone。〃
They exchanged a look。
〃It is not part of the estate； so it concerns no one else but the two of you。
〃It is from her； of course。 It was transcribed on her death…bed； less than an hour before she died。〃
〃But we already…〃 Bill tried to say。
Winthrop silenced him with upturned hand。 〃There were two of them。 This is the second。 Both dictated to me during the hours of that same night； or I should say； early morning。 This follows the other。 The first she gave you herself that same night； as you know。 The other she turned over to me。 I was to hold it until today； as I have done。 Her instructions to me were： it is for the two of you alike。 It is not to be delivered to the one without the other。 When delivered； it is not to be opened by the one without the other。 And finally； it is only to be delivered in the case of your marriage。 If you were not married at this time； as she wanted you to be…and you know she did； very much…then it was to be destroyed by me； unopened。 Singly； it is not for either one of you。 United in marriage； it is a last gift to the two of you； from her。
〃However。 You need not read it if you do not want to。 You can destroy it unopened。 I am under pledge not to reveal what is in it； even though I naturally know； for I took her words down at the bedside； and witnessed and notarized her signature in my capacity as her attorney。 You must； therefore； either read it or not read it for yourselves。 And if you do read it； then when you have read it； you are to destroy it just the same。〃
He waited a moment。
〃Now； do you want me to deliver it to you； or do you prefer that I destroy it？〃
〃We want it； of course；〃 Patrice whispered。
〃We want it；〃 Bill echoed。
He extended it to them lengthwise。 〃You kindly place your fingers on this corner。 You on this。〃 He withdrew his own fingers； and they were left holding it。
〃I hope it brings you the extra added happiness she wanted you both to have。 I know that that is why she did it。 She asked me to bless you both； for her； as I gave it to you。 Which I do now。 That concludes my stewardship in the matter。〃
They waited several hours； until they were alone together in their room that night。 Then when he'd finished putting on his robe； and saw that she had doned a silken bridal something over her nightdress； he took it out of his coat…pocket and said：
〃Now。 Shall we？ You do want to； don't you？〃
〃Of course。 It's from her。 We want to read it。 I've been counting the minutes all evening long。〃
〃I knew you'd want to。 e on over here。 We'll read it together。〃
He sat down in an easy chair； adjusted the hood of the lamp over one shoulder。 She perched beside him on the arm of the chair； slipped an arm about his shoulders。
The sealing…wax wafers crumbled and the flap shot upright； under his fingers。
In silent intensity； heads close together； they read：
〃My beloved children：
You are married by now； by the time this reaches you。 （For if you are not； it will not reach you； Mr。 Winthrop will tell you all about that。） You are happy。 I hope I have given you that happiness。 I want to give you even a little more。 And trust and pray that out of your plenty； you will spare a little of it for me； even though I am gone and no longer there with you。 I do not want a shadow to cross your minds every time you recall me。 I cannot bear to have you think ill of me。
I did not do that thing； of course。 I did not take that young man's life。 Perhaps you have already guessed it。 Perhaps you both know me well enough to know I could not have done such a thing。
I knew that he was doing something to threaten Patrice's happiness； that was all。 That was why we were havng Mr。 Carter investigate him。 But I never actually set eyes on him； I never saw him。
I was alone in the house last night （for as Mr。 Winthrop writes