"Precisely. I shall have a searching analysis of the stomach, of course. Indeed, I'm just off to Northampton for that purpose. But I do not anticipate finding anything. Young Nicholson was not the kind of fellow to take his own life." "No," I said; "he certainly did not strike me as having any tendencies towards suicide. Yet, from what the papers say, the affair is most mysterious." "Oh, the papers!" laughed Shaw, derisively. "They're always sensational. A good story means hundreds of pounds to them. But," he added, "I must be off, Kemball. I was just going when you came. I have to be on the Bench this morning at twelve." "Please express my most sincere condolence with Miss Seymour," I said. "You and I will meet again soon, no doubt." "My dear fellow, just come over whenever you like. Better ring me on the 'phone to see if we are at home, for we're often out in the car this fine weather." And, taking my hand, the man who in his dual life was a county magistrate, and was about to sit and administer justice from the Bench, gripped my hand and went out, followed by the Northampton doctor, who a moment later I saw with two large glass jam-jars in his hand. Yet almost directly after I heard a low, peculiar whistle emanating from an adjoining room. Shaw was whistling to himself--even though the house was a house of mourning! Left alone with Doctor Redwood I began to question him, explaining that I was a friend of the man now dead. "Well," he said, "I can't tell you very much, Mr Kemball. Captain Cardew, who was Nicholson's guest, is in the library. At least I left him there a little time ago; let's go and find him." So he conducted me along a well-carpeted corridor where the doors, I noticed, were of polished mahogany, and opening one, I found myself in a long, low, old-fashioned room, lined with brown-backed books from the floor to the panelled ceiling. At the table a tall, fair-haired, military-looking young man was seated writing letters. I introduced myself, whereupon he rose, and expressed his readiness to answer any questions, as I was poor Guy's friend, the doctor, having some matters to attend to with his colleague, leaving us alone. When he had gone I closed the door. Then, turning to the dead man's guest, I said in a low voice--"I wonder, Captain Cardew, if I might speak to you in absolute confidence?" "Certainly," he said; "we are mutual friends of poor Guy's." "Well," I exclaimed; "first, will you tell me, frankly, your private opinion of this terrible affair? Has there been foul play?" I saw that he hesitated. "Well," he replied, "there are certain curious circumstances which no doubt point to such a conclusion, although I understand that the doctors have had no hesitation in pronouncing death to be due to natural causes."