Briefly I explained my errand and rushed off for medical assistance, returning to "The Nook" with the grey-haired practitioner a quarter of an hour later. We found Dudley lying in the drawing-room on the large couch of yellow silk, with Beck and Mrs Laing standing calmly on either side. In Mrs Laing's eyes were traces of tears. The doctor, after a brief examination, shook his head gravely, saying,-- "Life has, unfortunately, been extinct for fully an hour." "What is the cause of death?" inquired Mrs Laing, eagerly. "I have not yet examined the body, but there are no marks of violence whatever, as far as I can observe. At the _post-mortem_ we may be able to discover something." She drew a deep breath. I chanced at that moment to glance at her, and was surprised to observe an unmistakable look of terror flit for a brief instant across her haggard countenance. It seemed as though the doctor's hope of determining the cause of death had aroused within her a sudden apprehension. Dr Allenby, however, suggested, in polite terms, that she should leave the room, as he desired to examine the body, and she reluctantly consented, exclaiming, as she moved slowly out,-- "I would have given worlds to have avoided all this. One's name will be bruited about in the papers; and there will be an inquest, I suppose, and all that sort of thing. And dear Ella--what a terrible blow it will be to her!" Then, when the door had closed, while I stood gazing upon my intimate friend who, only an hour before, had been so full of life's enjoyment, buoyant spirits and _bonhomie_, surprised at Mrs Laing's extraordinary manner, and reflecting upon her sudden strange demeanour, the doctor, assisted by Beck, began a minute and careful examination. In a quarter of an hour, they satisfied themselves that no violence had been used, and just as they concluded, the police, who had been sent for, arrived. The local sub-divisional inspector, tall, red-faced, and inclined to obesity, a plain-clothes constable, and a sergeant in uniform, who entered the drawing-room, were at once informed of the mysterious circumstances in which the body had been discovered. The inspector scribbled some brief notes, took the names and addresses of all of us, remarking with politeness that we should be compelled to attend the inquest. Afterwards, the body was removed to the billiard-room and the plain-clothes constable left in charge of it, while, with Beck and Dr Allenby, I entered the dining-room where Mrs Laing, pale, agitated and nervous, was eagerly awaiting us. The arrival of the police in her house had apparently filled her with dread, for almost the first question she asked me was,-- "Have they gone? Have they gone?" "They have left one officer on duty to prevent the body being touched," I answered. "Then the police are absolutely in possession of my house! Will they search it?" she inquired hoarsely.