. Then, when she is coffined ready for the next day, you and I shall come when all sleep. We shall unscrew the coffin-lid, and shall do our operation: and then replace all, so that none know, save we alone.”

“But why do it at all? The girl is dead. Why mutilate her poor body without need? And if there is no necessity for a postmortem and nothing to gain by it⁠—no good to her, to us, to science, to human knowledge⁠—why do it? Without such it is monstrous.”

For answer he put his hand on my shoulder, and said, with infinite tenderness:⁠—