count of things. I was stunned. We had interpreted the ambiguous
telegram in all other ways than this. Adrian was dead. That was all I
could think of. The only coherent remark I heard the man make was that
it was a dreadful thing to happen at Christmas. Barbara gripped my hand
tight and did not say a word. The next phase I remember only too
vividly. When the flat door opened, in a blaze of electric light, it was
like a curtain being lifted on a scene of appalling tragedy. As soon as
we entered we were sucked into it. A horrible hospital smell of
anaesthetics, disinfectants--I know not what--greeted us.

The maid Ellen who had admitted us, red-eyed and scared, flew down the
corridor into the kitchen, whence immediately afterwards emerged a
professional nurse, who, carrying something, flitted into Doria's room.
From the spare room came for a moment an elderly woman whom we did not
know. The study door was flung wide open--I noticed that the jamb was
splintered. From the drawing-room came sounds of awful moaning. We
entered and found Adrian's mother alone, helpless with grief. Barbara
sat by her and took her in her arms and spoke to her. But she could tell
us nothing. I heard a man's step in the hall and Jaffery and I went out.
He was a young man, very much agitated; he looked relieved at seeing us.

"I am a doctor," said he, "I was called in. The usual medical man is
apparently away for Christmas. I'm so glad you've come. Is there a Mrs.
Freeth here?"

"Yes. My wife," said I.

"Thank goodness--" He drew a breath. "There's no one here capable of
doing anything. I had to get in the nurse and the other woman."

Jaffery had summoned Barbara from her vain task.

"Mrs. Boldero is very ill--as ill as she can be. Of course you were
aware of her condition--well--the shock has had its not very uncommon
effect."

"Life in danger?" Jaffery asked bluntly.

"Life, reason, everything. Tell me. I'm a stranger. I know nothing--I
was summoned and found a man lying dead on the floor in that room"--he
pointed to the study--"and a woman in a dreadful state. I've only had
time to make sure that the poor fellow was dead. Could you tell me
something about them?"

So we told him, the three of us together, as people will, who Adrian
Boldero was, and how he and his genius were all this world and a bit of
the next to his wife. How I managed to talk sensibly I don't know, for
beating against the walls of my head was the thought that Adrian