It needed no medical knowledge to see that the case was hopeless. A terrific blow from some blunt instrument had smashed the whole front of the skull, and portions of the crushed and bleeding brain were even now protruding from the wound. Death must have come with merciful abruptness--a sudden and utter annihilation of every sense and feeling. Almost dazed by the blast of fury that swept through him, Colin stumbled to his feet. He glanced wildly round the room, and the broken French window, one half of which was standing open, immediately caught his eye. Since the door had been locked from inside, it was the only way by which the murderer could have escaped. He had evidently darted through into the garden with the intention of climbing the wall, and, moved by a desperate hope, Colin stepped across the dead body and ran out on to the lawn. A flood of moonlight, streaming in through the bare trees, lit up the whole desolate expanse of grass and shrubs. Everything was perfectly still, and, except for the faint rumbling of a cart in the distance, the entire neighbourhood seemed to be plunged in absolute silence. He was listening intently, with his eyes on the black line of bushes opposite, when a slight noise in the room behind attracted his attention. He turned round instantly, and through the window he caught sight of the panic-stricken figure of Mrs. Ramsay peering in at the open doorway. As he moved forward into the light she uttered a stifled scream. "Don't be frightened," he said quickly. "It's I--Doctor Gray." Clutching at her dressing-gown with one hand, she pointed a trembling finger toward the body. "Oh, my Gawd, sir," she gasped, "what is it? What's been happening?" Colin stood in the window, his face white and set. "The Professor has been murdered," he said. She stared at him for a moment, as though his words conveyed no meaning; then with a pitiful sound, like the whimpering of a beaten dog, she staggered back against the wall. Colin strode forward and took her by the arm. "You must pull yourself together," he said curtly. "This is no time for hysterics. I want your help--now--at once." As he expected, his almost brutal words had the desired result. She stopped crying, and once more her terrified glance travelled round in the direction of the dead man. "Who--who killed him?" Colin shook his head. "I don't know. When I came down the study door was locked from inside. I broke it open and found him lying here--like this." "It must have been the same man," she whispered; "the one who tried to burgle his desk." She caught hold of Colin's sleeve, and looked up imploringly into his face. "Oh, sir, can't nothing be done? Isn't there----" "I am going to telephone to the police. While I'm doing it I want you to stand outside in the hall, so that you can see into the room. If you hear the smallest sound or movement in the garden call to me at once." She gazed fearfully toward the broken window.