s the last person to be with Miss Manderson
before the crime was discovered?"

Copplestone scarcely opened his eyes.

"Mr. Tranter was with her near the river. She left him to go back to the
house, and asked him to find me, and tell me she was not well."

"Did he find you?"

"Yes. And I at once went into the house."

"Where were you when Mr. Tranter found you?"

"I was crossing the second lawn--towards the tennis courts."

The inspector was busy with his note-book.

"Were you alone?"

"Yes. I had just come out of the house after filling my cigarette-case,
as I told you. I was looking for Miss Manderson, and wondering where she
had got to. If only I had gone in the right direction ... I might have
been in time...."

"After Mr. Tranter had spoken to you, you say you went into the house at
once?"

"At once. I waited nearly ten minutes for her, and came out again just
as Mr. Delamere gave the alarm. I'm afraid I handled him roughly...."

The words trailed off into silence. A convulsive shudder passed through
him.

"Then we all ran off ... to where she lay," his voice shook. "Something
seemed to give way ... here...." he pressed his hands to his head. "Is
there ... anything more ... you want to know?"

The inspector rose.

"Only one thing. Will you kindly give me the names of your guests in the
other room?"

Copplestone complied slowly. Inspector Fay wrote the names down.

"Thank you," he said, laying down his book. "I am sorry to have had to
give you the pain of answering so many questions. I am afraid you are
quite overwrought. I should advise you to try to get some sleep."

"Sleep," Copplestone murmured, rising weakly from his chair. "Sleep....
Good God."

The inspector himself made a gesture of fatigue.

"I only got back from another heavy case as your message came in," he
apologized, stifling a yawn. "Tobacco is the only thing that keeps me
going. Could you give me a cigarette?"

Without answering, Copplestone languidly produced an elaborately jeweled
gold cigarette-case, and handed it to the inspector.

There were two cigarettes in it.

Inspector Fay took one, with a perfectly impassive countenance, and
returned the case. Copplestone replaced it in his pocket.

"Please give whatever instructions you like to my man," he said
dully--"and let me know if you want me. I shall be in my room."

He turned, and moved away with slow heavy steps, disappearing between
the same curtains through whic