"Yes. The wing has been unoccupied since the night of the murder. Shall I show you the way up?" "It will not be necessary. I know the way, and I shall be there some time." "In that case I will leave you till lunch-time," responded Musard, as he walked away. Colwyn did not go upstairs immediately. He took a solitary walk in the woods, thinking over everything that Musard had told him. Then he returned to the house and mounted the staircase to the left wing. His first act was to make a thorough examination of the unused back staircase at the end of the corridor. Then he entered the bedroom Mrs. Heredith had occupied. The room had the forlorn appearance of disuse. The bed had been partly stripped, and the tall-backed chairs, in prim linen covers, looked like seated ghosts with arms a-kimbo. Colwyn's first act was to draw the heavy window curtains and open the window. He then commenced an examination of the room in the morning sunlight. His examination was long and thorough, but it brought nothing to light which added to his knowledge of the events of the murder. The time went on, and he was still engrossed in his scrutiny when the door opened and Phil entered the room. CHAPTER XVII "Lunch is waiting," said the young man. "My aunt thought that you did not hear the gong, so I came up to tell you." "Miss Heredith was right--I did not hear it. I am sorry if I have kept you waiting. I have been so busy that I forgot the passing of time." If Phil felt any curiosity as to the matters which had engaged Colwyn's attention in the room where his wife had been murdered, he did not express it in words. "My aunt will show you over the moat-house after lunch, if you wish," was what he said. "I should be glad," returned Colwyn. "But I am reluctant to put Miss Heredith to the trouble." "Do not think of that," responded Phil. "My aunt desires nothing better than to show the old place to anybody she likes. And she has taken a liking to you." "It is very good of her. I shall be pleased to accept her offer, for I wish to see over the house as soon as possible." They had started to descend the stairs. Colwyn, happening to glance over the balusters, saw the motionless figure of Tufnell standing at the bottom of the staircase partly concealed by the group of ornamental shrubs in the hall. His face was turned upwards with an aspect of strained curiosity, but it was immediately withdrawn as his eyes encountered Colwyn's downward gaze. A moment later Colwyn saw him enter the dining-room. When they reached the foot of the staircase, Colwyn, with an explanatory glance at his soiled hands and dusty clothes, promised to join the luncheon party in a few minutes. He went to his own room for a hasty toilet, and when he descended a few minutes later he again saw Tufnell in the hall. The butler, who was giving a direction to a servant, met his eye calmly, and hastened to open the dining-room door for him.