"Suicide?" she exclaimed. "Never! Murder? That may be. Tell me what you have found," she went on eagerly. "Don't keep things back!--don't you see I want to know?" The inspector closed the door and came nearer to where the three were standing. "Perhaps I'd better tell you what we do know," he said. "Our station was rung up by the caretaker here at five minutes past eight. He said Mr. Herapath had just been found lying on the floor of his private room, and they were sure something was wrong, and would we come round. I came myself with one of our plain-clothes men who happened to be in, and our surgeon followed us a few minutes later. We found Mr. Herapath lying across the hearthrug in his private room, quite dead. Close by----" He paused and looked dubiously at Peggie. "The details are not pleasant," he said meaningly. "Shall I omit them?" "No!" answered Peggie with decision. "Please omit nothing. Tell us all." "There was a revolver lying close by Mr. Herapath's right hand," continued the inspector. "One chamber had been discharged. Mr. Herapath had been shot through the right temple, evidently at close quarters. I should say--and our surgeon says--he had died instantly. And--I think that's all I need say just now." Peggie, who had listened to this with unmoved countenance, involuntarily stepped towards the door. "Let us go to him," she said. "I suppose he's still here?" But there Selwood, just as involuntarily, asserted an uncontrollable instinct. He put himself between the door and the girl. "No!" he said firmly, wondering at himself for his insistence. "Don't! There's no need for that--yet. You mustn't go. Mr. Tertius----" "Better not just yet, miss," broke in the inspector. "The doctor is still here. Afterwards, perhaps. If you would wait here while these gentlemen go with me." Peggie hesitated a moment; then she turned away and sat down. "Very well," she said. The inspector silently motioned the two men to follow him; with his hand on the door Selwood turned again to Peggie. "You will stay here?" he said. "You won't follow us?" "I shall stay here," she answered. "Stop a minute--there's one thing that should be thought of. My cousin Barthorpe----" "Mr. Barthorpe Herapath has been sent for, miss--he'll be here presently," replied the inspector. "The caretaker's telephoned to him. Now gentlemen."