, and the old oak is shrunken
and worm-eaten. I could easily shove that panel out, but there's no
need. Here, Jem, try and open the lock the regular way."

Stratton's lips parted, but he said no word; and, as the second man
strode up to the door with his tools, the sergeant went on:

"I thought it was a mare's nest, sir, and even now I don't like to speak
too fast; but it looks to me as if the poor gentleman had been robbed
and murdered, and whoever did it has hidden the body in here."

A curious cry escaped from Stratton's lips, and he gazed fiercely at the
officer.

"That's it, sir," said the man. "It's a startler for you, I know,
living so close, but I'm afraid it's true. Well, Jem, what do you make
of it?"

Guest looked as if he had received a mental blow, as idea after idea
flashed through his mind. Stratton's manner suggested it--his acts of
late, the disappearance of Brettison on the wedding day, the large sum
of money on the table, the mad horror and despair of the man ever
since--it must be so; and he felt that here was the real key to all his
friend's strange behaviour.

He wiped the cold moisture from his brow, and stared at Stratton, but
his friend was standing rigid and determined, watching the actions of
the two men, and Guest had hard work to suppress a groan, as he felt
that his companion would owe to him the discovery and the punishment
that would follow.

Just then Stratton turned and saw that he was being watched; but, as if
all attempts at concealment were hopeless, he smiled faintly at his
friend and then turned away.

The workman had not made any reply, and the sergeant spoke again as a
large picklock was thrust into the keyhole again and again.

"Rusted up?"

"Ay, and eaten away; there hasn't been a key used in that lock in our
time, pardner. But stop a minute; more ways of killing a cat than
hanging of her. Let's have a look."

He began to examine the edge of the door, and then turned sharply round.

"Look here," he said; and then taking hold of the antique door knob, he
lifted it and the whole of the front bar or rail came away--a piece of
narrow wood six feet long.

"Split away from the tenons," he said; and the sergeant uttered an
ejaculation, full of eager satisfaction.

"There, gentleman," he said, pointing. "One--two--three--four bright
new screws. What do you say now?"

There they were plain enough, close to the door frame, and Guest uttered
a low sigh as he su