Dr. Mayne waited to hear no more; he went to the poor lady’s room at once; Sir Ronald followed him. There they found the maid wringing her hands and crying aloud that it was a wicked and a cruel deed. “Tell me what it is,” said the doctor, firmly. Then Mrs. Glynn turned down the blue satin quilt. “Look, sir,” she said; “when we began to undress the poor lady we found this.” Dr. Mayne bent down and saw through the silken robe and fine white linen a cut made by some sharp instrument, evidently very small and pointed. He tore away the dress, and there on the white skin was a deep wound just over the heart. Only a few drops of blood had fallen from it; it was not large enough for a knife to have done it, it must have been caused by some sharp instrument long enough to have pierced the heart. “How awful!” cried the doctor, hoarsely; “why, Lady Alden has been murdered--murdered, I say, Sir Ronald, and flung into the water--look!” Sir Ronald bent down and saw the mark. “She has been stabbed through the heart. She must have died in an instant, and then have been thrown into the water. This is no accident, but foul, black, treacherous murder! I cannot even imagine what weapon has been used. It was evidently not much larger than a common bodkin, but long and sharp. Who can have done such a deed, Sir Ronald?” “I cannot tell; she had not an enemy in the world. I cannot guess.” “You had better come away from this room,” said the doctor, compassionately; “we can do no good; it only makes you wretched.” “I will go to my room,” said Sir Ronald, hoarsely; “I--I cannot bear it, doctor--you must see to everything for me.” And Sir Ronald, with tottering steps, went from the death chamber, where the horror seemed to be deepening every hour, and Dr. Mayne was left to do the best he could. “It is too horrible,” he said to Mrs. Glynn. “I do not think such an event ever happened before in the memory of man. Will you see that one of the grooms goes at once to Leeholme and brings back the inspector of police?--there is no time to lose.” If the little bird which had sung upon the branches could have spoken and have told what had happened that summer morning in the Holme Woods! CHAPTER III. AN OPEN VERDICT. Three days had passed since the tragedy that cast such gloom over the whole neighborhood had occurred; three long, dreary days. Outside the world was in full beauty, fair, smiling summer flung her treasures with a reckless hand; the sun was bright and the flowers sweet; inside the stately mansion all was darkness, horror and gloom. Murder is always terrible. It is so seldom known among the higher classes that when a young and lovely woman like Lady Alden is its victim the sensation caused is something terrible.