"Come outside, dear--you need air, and I must summon a physician and the police." "Can't we do--anything for Harry?" she asked. "Nothing." "At least, we can put him on the couch." "It is wiser not." "Must we let him lie on the floor?" "Since he is dead, it is best not to disturb anything until the police come," he replied--and slowly led her from the room. As he did so, steps crossed the piazza and the entrance bell rang. "They must not enter, Montague!" Stephanie exclaimed--"they must not enter!"--She sank on a chair.--"Go--tell Tompkins I am not at home to anyone!" He met the butler at the rear of the hall. "Mrs. Lorraine is not at home--whoever it is must be sent away," he directed. "Yes, Mr. Pendleton!" the man bowed. Passing the doorway to the living-room, Tompkins glanced in--and straightway his immobility of countenance vanished. He stopped, staring--terror and amazement blended on his face. "The door, sir, the door!" said Pendleton sharply. "Yes, sir--yes, sir!" the butler answered--and sprang to obey. "Is Mr. Pendleton here?" came Cameron's voice. "No, sir; Mr.----" Tompkins began--when Pendleton cut him short. "Come in, Cameron," said he, "you're just the man I want." "Lorraine didn't keep his appointment with me," explained Cameron, as he entered. "And----" "Lorraine is here!" Pendleton answered, drawing the other over to the living-room door. "Good God!" was Cameron's amazed cry.--"_Lorraine!_ and who is the other?--Amherst! _Amherst!_ Dead!--what does it mean?" "They both are dead," said Pendleton. "Lorraine killed Amherst with yonder candlestick--and then, a moment after, was stricken by apoplexy or a heart attack." "You were here?" Cameron marvelled. "I came in just as Amherst received the fatal blow.--Lorraine was explaining how it all happened when he himself was seized and died instantly." "And Stephanie?" Pendleton turned sharply to the butler, who was standing open-mouthed behind them, and said:-- "Tompkins, call up Dr. Hubbard at once and ask him to come over immediately." He waited until the man had gone and the door was closed behind him--then he lowered his voice. "Stephanie was here through it all--she had fainted on the couch." "Where is she now?" "In the piazza-room!" "How much does she know?" "Everything." "Who else knows it?" "No one." "Not even Tompkins?" "Not even Tompkins. He and the other servants were at dinner--their dining-room is in the rear downstairs." "You are positive? They," with an expressive gesture toward the floor, "must have made considerable noise." "If you had seen Tompkins' face when he came to answer your ring, you would not doubt," Pendleton replied. "Then why bring Stephanie into the affair? Let her know nothing--let her be upstairs--anywhere--so long as she isn't on _this floor_.--How did _you_ enter?" he asked suddenly. "Through the piazza-room." "Are you prepared to take the risk of being--implicated--to relieve Stephanie?" Cameron asked.