to the house with all speed
he had conferred with Mrs. Graham, the housekeeper, and, on her
insistence, he had telephoned to the police.

Sergeant Crudden of the Essex County Constabulary immediately
bicycled over to "The Hollows," Professor McMurray's residence, and,
after hearing the butler's story, he had decided to force the door;
there are no windows, the laboratory being lighted from above, in
order to secure entire privacy.

To the officer's surprise the door yielded readily, having
apparently been previously forced. Entering the laboratory he was
horrified to discover the body of the professor lying in the centre
of the floor, his head literally smashed by a terrible blow that had
obviously been delivered from behind.

Acting on the instructions of the police-sergeant, the butler had
telephoned the news to the police-station at Strinton, with the
result that shortly afterwards Inspector Brewitt arrived with a
doctor.

The police had made no statement; but there were some extraordinary
rumours current in the neighbourhood. One was to the effect that it
was not Professor McMurray's body that had been discovered; but that
of a much younger man who bore a striking resemblance to him.

"You have seen the accounts of my friend's terrible end?" enquired
Sir Jasper, as he took the box of matches Malcolm Sage handed him
and proceeded to light his pipe.

Malcolm Sage nodded. His gaze was fixed upon Sir Jasper's grey
worsted socks, which concertinaed up his legs above a pair of
strangely-fashioned black shoes.

"He was about to enter upon a series of experiments with a serum he
had discovered, his object being to lengthen human life."

Sir Jasper spoke in a gentle, well-modulated voice, in which was a
deep note of sadness. He and Professor McMurray had been life-long
friends, their intimacy appearing to become strengthened by the
passage of years.

"You were the last to see him alive, I understand." Malcolm Sage
picked up his fountain-pen and began an elaborate stipple design of
a serpent upon the blotting-pad.

"Eight days before he was found I dined with him," said Sir Jasper,
his voice a little unsteady.

"What happened?" Malcolm Sage enquired without looking up.

"I arrived at seven o'clock," continued Sir Jasper. "From then until
half-past we talked upon things of general interest, after which we
dined. Later he told me he was about to enter upon a final series of
experiments, the result of which wou