rse, of course. But my father? We cannot leave him like
that. To take him up to his bedroom would not be wise, and we cannot--
here, Rich, I say, where are you? Constable, help me carry out this
sofa."

John Whyley followed, and the comfortable couch was carried from its
neighbourhood by the ghastly figure lying beyond the table, into the
surgery, placed close to the wall, and the wounded man carefully placed
upon it in an easier position.

"Now, sir, just one look round," said the constable, as Richmond knelt
down, weeping silently by her father's side, "and then I'm off. Got
this, sir."

He drew out the life-preserver, and showed it to the young student
before going into the consulting-room, and after a glance round,
kneeling by the dead man to make a rapid search of his pockets.

"Surely this is not necessary now?"

"Yes, sir, it is. One of the first questions my sergeant will ask me
will be about recognitions. That will do, sir. Not a scrap of anything
about him after a sooperficial search. Now the other place."

He returned to the surgery, looked round, peered into a closet, and then
examined the door.

"No signs of violence," he said; and then the settee caught his
attention, and he advanced cautiously, drew up the valance, but only to
reveal that it was a great chest, and had not harbour beneath for
concealment of person or article connected with the case. "Chest, eh?"
he said; and placing his hand to the cushion, he found that it was
fastened to the great lid, which he raised with one hand, and directed
the light into it with the other; but before it was open many inches he
banged it down and started away as if horrified.

"Bah, man! scared by a few bones. Articulations, and preparations used
in surgical lectures."

"Yes, I see," said the man, recovering himself, "but coming upon 'em
sudden like, they looked rather horrid. Now, sir, I'm off. I shall
send on the first of our men I see, and come back with the doctor. One
two streets off, ain't there? if I can find him in the fog."

"Yes; Mr Clayton Bell. Be quick."

The man hurried off, and in a remarkably short time, or so it seemed to
the brother and sister, who were conversing in whispers as they strove
to restore the unconscious man to consciousness, there was a ring at the
bell, and the constable had returned with a grave, portly-looking
surgeon and a sergeant of police.

"Yes," said the newcomer, after a careful examination, "tw