Going nearer, Rodney looked at the body, touched it and felt for the girl’s heart. There was no heartbeat and the cold flesh proved her death took place some hours since. “What do you know about it?” he asked the cook. “Not a thing, sir. Martha was down stairs late last night, and she came up again, saying Mrs Varian was down in the library.” “Mrs Varian down stairs! At what time was this?” “’Long about one o’clock, sir. Then me and Martha both went to sleep,—leastways, I did, and that’s all I knew till morning. Then I went to call the girl to get up, and her bed was empty. I came down—and here I saw—this!” Throwing her apron over her face, Hannah rocked back and forth in her chair. Rodney forced himself to think,—to give orders. “Hannah,” he said, “I’m sorry, but we mustn’t touch Martha,—and you’ll have to get breakfast,—just the same.” “I can’t, sir—I can’t get the breakfast, with that poor dead girl,—why, I loved that young one like she was my own.” “But, Hannah, remember your duty to Mrs Varian. Now, we’ll lay a coverlet over Martha, and you and Kelly between you must prepare the coffee, and such things as Mrs Varian wants. Be brave now, for there’s enough sorrow for Mrs Varian to bear. You and Kelly must do whatever you can to help.” Then Rodney looked hastily at all the doors and windows, finding them all securely fastened, as they always were at night. “Thank goodness, Wise is coming today,” he thought, as he went to telephone for Sheriff Potter again. Potter summoned, he turned his mind to the question of how best to tell the news to Minna, and concluded to tell Nurse Fletcher first. She came down then, greatly excited, to learn what had happened. Granniss told her, and then said, “Now Mrs Fletcher, I beg of you, don’t threaten to leave. Mrs Varian needs you now more than ever, and as Mr Wise, the great detective, is coming today, I’m sure you need not be afraid to stay on.” “Very well,” Fletcher returned, primly, “I know my duty, and I propose to do it. I will stay with Mrs Varian until she can get some one else,—or until I can get some one else for her,—but not an hour longer. How did the maid die?” “I don’t know, exactly,” Rodney looked puzzled. “I didn’t think it best to touch the body, except to convince myself that she is really dead. Now, will you tell Mrs Varian, or shall I?” “I’ll tell her,—but I’d like you to stand by.” So, taking Minna’s breakfast tray, quite as usual, the nurse went back to her patient. “You needn’t tell me,” was the greeting she received. “I overheard enough to know what has happened. It’s awful,—but I suppose it’s only the beginning of a further string of tragedies.” The utter hopelessness of the white face alarmed Granniss more than a hysterical outburst would have done.