He turned from the safe and examined the part of the floor on which the

Marquess had fallen; then he caught sight of the poker and pursed his

lips.

"That's what did it," he said, confidently. "The blood's still wet on

it."

Heyton made as if to pick up the poker, but the Inspector caught his arm

and stayed him.

"Beg pardon, my lord," he said, apologetically. "But you mustn't touch

anything. We'll let everything bide as it is until the detective comes

down from Scotland Yard."

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He went to the window and examined it; but without touching it.

"Closed and hasped! Have you any idea how they got in, my lord; have any

of the servants found a window or a door open?"

"No," replied Heyton; then he added, as if he had suddenly remembered.

"Here, by George, that's strange! I mean about the window. I found one

of the back windows open when I went down this morning for a swim."

"Oh!" said the Inspector. "I should like to see that window, my lord.

But one moment! Was there anything of value--I mean, jewels or money or

anything of that kind--in the safe?"

"Not that I'm aware of," replied Heyton, almost instantly; but he had

had time to consider the question. "There may have been, of course. Not

jewels, because my father kept the family diamonds at the bank."

"That's something to be thankful for, my lord," said the Inspector, with

an approving shake of the head. "Quite the proper thing to do. There

wouldn't be half the burglaries, if the gentry didn't leave their jewels

about in the way they do. But there might have been money?"

"Oh, yes, there might," said Heyton.

The Inspector walked round the room cautiously, and presently went to

the outer door.

"Is this locked, my lord?"

"I don't know," said Heyton; and, as if he had forgotten the Inspector's

injunction, he tried the handle of the door before the Inspector could

stop him. "It's locked," said Heyton.

"Tut, tut!" said the Inspector to himself, as if he were much annoyed by

something.

"Come on," said Heyton. "I'll show you the window I found open." He was

consumed by a feverish desire to get the Inspector out of the room.

They went down to the lower hall, the white-faced servants staring at

them from coigns of vantage; and the Inspector glanced swiftly at the

window and then at the hall.




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