"Well, 'peared to us she'd been crying." "Can you remember who went in or out of the building on Tuesday evening?" the Coroner asked. "Well, sah, near's I can say only two gem'men come in--Mr. Stuart, and a gem'man who called on Mrs. Atkins." "Does the corpse at all resemble that gentleman?" "I couldn't rightly say, sah." "Why not?" "Well, sah, I was a-sittin' in de office when he come, an' I jus' see a big man go past and heard him talkin' loud in de elevator." "While Joe was upstairs what did you do?" "I sat in de front hall, sah." "Did you see anyone go out?" "No, sah." After being severely admonished not to speak of this affair to anyone, Tony was allowed to depart. "Now we have got through with the employees of the building," said the Coroner, "and must begin on the families and their servants." "Yes, Mr. Coroner, and I think I had better step up-stairs myself and tell Mr. and Mrs. Atkins that you want to see them," said Mr. Merritt, "and, in case the lady should be overcome by the sad news, perhaps it would be as well for Dr. Fortescue to come along also." I was only too delighted, of course. CHAPTER IV UNWILLING WITNESSES Not waiting for the elevator, we walked up the intervening flight and rang a bell on our right. The door was opened by a neat-looking maid, who showed some surprise at our early call. "Is Mr. Atkins at home?" inquired the detective. "Yes, sir; but he is having his breakfast." "Ah, indeed; I am sorry to disturb him," replied Mr. Merritt. "However, it can't be helped. Will you please tell your master that two gentlemen must see him for a few moments on important business." "Yes, sir," and showing us into a gaudily furnished room on our left, the girl vanished. I saw at once that this was not the scene of last night's drama, but a smaller room adjoining the other. My observations were almost immediately interrupted by the entrance of a young man, whose handsome face was at that moment disfigured by a scowl. "Mr. Atkins, I believe," said Mr. Merritt, advancing towards him with his most conciliatory smile. Mr. Atkins nodded curtly. "It is my painful duty," continued the detective, "to inform you that a very serious accident has occurred in the building." The frown slowly faded from the young man's forehead, giving place to a look of concern. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed, in the most natural manner; "what has happened? Can I do anything?" "Well, Mr. Atkins," replied Mr. Merritt, slowly, "to tell you the truth, a man has been killed, and as we haven't been able to find any one so far who can identify him we are going through the formality of asking every one in the building to take a look at the corpse, hoping to discover somebody who knew the dead man, or at any rate can give us some clue to his identity. Will you and Mrs. Atkins and your two servants, therefore, kindly step down-stairs? The body is lying in the unoccupied apartment on the next floor."