In a few minutes all the household knew the terrible truth that Sir Rupert had been found dead in his study, shot through the head, and Dombrain came to the scene of the tragedy with horror on his face, followed by Kaituna and Mrs. Belswin. "For God's sake don't let Miss Pethram see it," said Dombrain to the butler, "nor Mrs. Belswin. It is not a sight for women." But it was too late; they were both in the room, and Kaituna with a cry of horror fell on her knees beside the dead body of her father, while Mrs. Belswin stood looking down at the corpse with an impassive expression on her strongly-marked features. The servants had left the room in order to send for the police, and only three persons were left with the dead man--Kaituna, convulsed with grief, kneeling by the body, and Mrs. Belswin standing beside Dombrain, both silently looking--at the dead man? No. At the weeping daughter? No. At one another? Yes. The questioning look of Dombrain said-- "You were the dead man's enemy. Is this your work?" Mrs. Belswin's eyes replied defiantly. "I was, and am still, the dead man's enemy. I defy you to prove that this is my work." They eyed one another steadily for a few moments, and then the man's eyes drooped before the fierce daring of the woman's. There was silence in the room broken only by the sobs of Kaituna. "Come away, my dear," said Mrs. Belswin, bending down with a caressing gesture. "Come to your room; we can do no good here." "Oh!" cried Kaituna, rising slowly from her knees; "who has done this? My poor father! My poor father! Who has murdered him?" Again a flash of suspicion between Dombrain and Mrs. Belswin. "We do not know dear," said the latter, soothingly; "but Mr. Dombrain has sent for the police. Perhaps they will find out the truth." "They must! they must!" cried the girl, in an agony of grief. "Oh, it is terrible. To have come back for this. To be killed under his own roof by an enemy. Oh, why does God permits such things?" "God permits many things," said Mrs. Belswin, bitterly, putting her arm round the shrinking form of her daughter. "Come away, dear. All that can be done will be done. The English police are clever, and may perhaps capture the murderer." Dombrain smiled, and Mrs. Belswin noticed the smile. "Perhaps the murderer may escape," he said with emphasis, giving a stealthy glance at Mrs. Belswin's coldly impassive face. "He may escape man; but he will not escape God," cried Kaituna, fervently. "Oh, come away, Mrs. Belswin, come away. I shall die if I stay here." "You will of course do everything that is necessary, Mr. Dombrain," said the chaperon, as she led the weeping girl to the door. "Of course," he replied, stolidly. "I will arrange everything." Mrs. Belswin looked at him steadily, and then left the room with the heart-broken daughter, while Dombrain, left alone beside the corpse, drew a long breath. "What nerve," he said, under his breath; "what nerve."