l. A perfectly healthy
creature cut off in a moment and nothing to show us why--absolutely
nothing."

"A death without a cause--a negation of science surely?"

"There is a cause, but I do not think this dreadful tragedy will reveal
it," answered the doctor. "I pray it may, however, for all our sakes,"
he continued. "It is impossible to say how deeply I feel this for
her, but also for you, and myself, too. He was one of the best, a good
sportsman and a good man."

"And a great loss to the Service," added Sir Walter. "I have not
considered all this means yet. My thoughts are centred on Mary."

"You must let me spare you all I can, my friend. There will be an
inquest, of course, and an inquiry. Also a post-mortem. Shall I
communicate with Dr. Mordred to-day, or would you prefer that somebody
else--"

"Somebody else. The most famous man you know. From no disrespect to Dr.
Mordred, or to you, Mannering. You understand that. But I should like
an independent examination by some great authority, some one who knew
nothing of the former case. This is an appalling thing to happen. I
don't know where to begin thinking."

"Do not put too great a strain upon yourself. Leave it to those who will
come to the matter with all their wits and without your personal sorrow.
An independent inquirer is certainly best, one who, as you say, knows
nothing about the former case."

"I don't know where to begin thinking," repeated the other. "Such a
thing upsets one's preconceived opinions. I had always regarded my
aversion to this room as a human weakness--a thing to be conquered. Look
round you. Would it be possible to imagine an apartment with less of
evil suggestion?"

The other made a perfunctory examination, went into every corner, tapped
the walls and stared at the ceiling. The clean morning light showed its
intricate pattern of interwoven circles converging from the walls to
the centre, and so creating a sense of a lofty dome instead of a flat
surface. In the centre was a boss of a conventional lily flower opening
its petals.

"The room should not be touched till after the inquest, I think. Indeed,
if I may advise, you will do well to leave it just as it is for the
police to see."

"They will want to see it, I imagine?"

"Unless you communicate direct with Scotland Yard, ask for a special
inquiry, and beg that the local men are not employed. There is reason in
that, for it is quite certain that nobody here would be of any grea