Gale addressed a few words to the coroner, and then the body was removed. As Gilbert turned to leave the room, Gale put his arm on his sleeve. "What about the date?" he asked. "Mr. Silwood left either that Friday night or next morning--which, is not certain." Gale looked at Gilbert, earnestly, but he did not speak; his silence was eloquent enough. "You think," said Gilbert, slowly, "that Silwood murdered----?" He did not complete the sentence. "I say nothing definite, Mr. Gilbert; but don't you think it looks that way?" "It is impossible--impossible!" said Gilbert. But Gale shook his head. When Gilbert got to Waterloo, on his way to see Kitty, he heard at the bookstall people eagerly asking for the latest editions of the evening papers. On the placards he saw in big black letters-- "THE BODY OF THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE DISCOVERED." "IS IT MURDER?" How was he to tell Kitty, his darling? What could he say to her? But when he arrived at Surbiton, he was surprised to find that Kitty showed considerable calmness in the circumstances. "I was sure my father was dead," she said to him, as they talked over the discovery of the body. "I was certain that if he had been alive he would have come to me. I never had any hope. And, Gilbert, I do not believe that Mr. Silwood killed him. Why should he have done so? I wonder if the darkness which surrounds my father's death will ever be cleared away?" "It is shrouded in mystery at present, my darling," said Gilbert, immensely relieved that Kitty was bearing up so well; "but perhaps some evidence will be forthcoming at the inquest. It is to take place on Tuesday." "I think I should like to be present," said Kitty, after a long pause. "It may be very painful for you, and I do not believe you will be called on." "It is my duty, I suppose, and I must not shrink from it." "My own brave little girl," said Gilbert, kissing her fondly. CHAPTER XVI All the newspapers had published as full accounts as they could compile of the Lincoln's Inn Mystery, dwelling on and emphasizing the extraordinary features of the case. Determined now to give it the utmost publicity, Inspector Gale had supplied them with most of the information at his command, but he took good care to say not a word about the mission on which he had despatched Brydges. What he did communicate to the Press was sufficient, however, to arouse the public to a still higher pitch of excitement regarding the whole strange story of Morris Thornton. As a natural consequence, the room in which the inquest was held was packed as densely as it could be. In the mean time Gale had been exceedingly active. He had not yet received any message from Brydges; he did not, in fact, expect to hear from him for a day or two, if so soon. But he had interviewed Miss Kitty Thornton and Francis Eversleigh.