Nesta hesitated for awhile before answering. "Not of the actual circumstances," she replied at last,--"none at all of what you call the accepted story. The fact is, I'm not a good hand at explaining anything, and perhaps I can't convey to you what I mean. But I've a feeling--an impression--that there is--or was some mystery on Saturday which might have--and might not have--oh, I can't make it clear, even to myself. "If you would be at the inquest tomorrow, and listen carefully to everything--and then tell me afterwards--do you understand?" "I understand," answered Collingwood. "Leave it to me." Whether he expected to hear anything unusual at the inquest, whether he thought any stray word, hint, or suggestion would come up during the proceedings, Collingwood was no more aware than Nesta was certain of her vague ideas. But he was very soon assured that there was going to be nothing beyond brevity and formality. He had never previously been present at an inquest--his legal mind was somewhat astonished at the way in which things were done. It was quickly evident to him that the twelve good men and true of the jury--most of them cottagers and labourers living on the estate--were quite content to abide by the directions of the coroner, a Barford solicitor, whose one idea seemed to be to get through the proceedings as rapidly and smoothly as possible. And Collingwood felt bound to admit that, taking the evidence as it was brought forward, no simpler or more straightforward cause of investigation could be adduced. It was all very simple indeed--as it appeared there and then. The butler, a solemn-faced, respectable type of the old family serving-man, spoke as to his identification of the dead master's body, and gave his evidence in a few sentences. Mr. Mallathorpe, he said, had gone out of the front door of the Grange at half-past two on Saturday afternoon, carrying a gun, and had turned into the road leading towards the South Shrubbery. At about three o'clock Mr. Pratt had come running up the drive to the house, and told him and Miss Mallathorpe that he had just found Mr. Mallathorpe lying dead in the sunken cut between the South and North Shrubbery. Nobody had any question to ask the butler. Nor were any questions asked of Pratt--the one really important witness.