Mrs Parham was, I saw, a brown-haired, good-looking young lady of about
twenty-six. Her black silk blouse was fastened at the throat by a
beautiful diamond brooch--one from her husband's stock perhaps--but she
wore no other ring except the badge of matrimony.
Her eyes were closed, and it appeared as though she had fainted, yet
across her left cheek from mouth to ear was a deep livid ridge. A scarf
somewhat similar to that used to stifle the cries of the maid had been
used upon her.
"Tell us what's happened?" inquired Laking, eagerly. "Who's done this?"