The room was empty; but it was evident that the dreadful catastrophe he anticipated had taken place in the inner room, since a dark stream of blood could be seen trickling beneath the door, which was standing ajar. Atherton endeavoured to push it open, but encountering some resistance, was obliged to use a slight degree of force to accomplish his object, and he then went in, closely followed by the others. A dreadful spectacle met their gaze. Stretched upon the floor amid a pool of blood, with a pistol grasped in his hand, showing how the deed had been done, lay Sir Richard. [Illustration: DEATH OF SIR RICHARD RAWCLIFFE Page 201.] He had shot himself through the heart, so that his death must have been almost instantaneous. The sight would have been ghastly enough under any circumstances; but beheld in that chamber, so full of fearful associations, it acquired additional horror. The group gathered round the body--the young baronet in his military attire--the Highlander in his accoutrements--and the old butler--formed a striking picture. That the guilty man should die there seemed like the work of retribution. As the nephew he had so deeply injured, and deprived of his inheritance, looked down upon his dark and stern visage, now stilled in death, he could not but pity him. "May Heaven forgive him, as I forgive him!" he ejaculated. "If he has sinned deeply his penitence has been sincere," said Markland, sorrowfully. "Half his time has been spent in fasting and prayer. Heaven have mercy on his sinful soul!" "It seems to me as if he had something clutched in his left hand," remarked the sergeant. "I think so, too," said Atherton. "See what it is." Thereupon, Erick knelt down beside the body, and opening the fingers, which were not yet stiffened, took from them a small slip of paper, and gave it to Atherton. It had been crushed in the death gripe, but on being unfolded, these warning words appeared: "'Tis given to those on the point of death to see into the future, and I read danger and destruction in the expedition you have joined. Be warned by your unhappy uncle, and abandon it." "Whatever may be the consequence, I cannot abandon the expedition," thought Atherton. While forming this resolution, he gazed at his lifeless monitor, and it seemed to him as if a frown passed over the dead man's countenance. CHAPTER XXXI. SIR RICHARD RAWCLIFFE'S CONFESSION. After considering what ought to be done under circumstances so painful and extraordinary, Atherton left Sergeant Dickson with the body, and then descending with Markland to the hall, ordered him to assemble the whole house without delay, and acquaint them with the dreadful catastrophe that had occurred. Thereupon, Markland rang the alarm bell, and the summons was immediately answered by all the male part of the household, and several women, who hurried to the entrance-hall to see what was the matter.