said Dick. "He went to Highminster--some
County Council business or other--at ten this morning, and he won't be
back until four--I happen to know that. Shall I run for Dr. Coates?"

"If you wouldn't mind," said Mitchington, "and as it's close by, drop in
at the station again and tell the sergeant to come here with a couple of
men. I say!" he went on, when the boy had hurried off, "this is a queer
business, Dr. Bryce! What do you think?"

"I think this," answered Bryce. "That man!--look at him!--a strong,
healthy-looking fellow, in the very prime of life--that man has met his
death by foul means. You take particular care of those dinner things
of his--the remains of his dinner, every scrap--and of that tin bottle.
That, especially. Take all these things yourself, Mitchington, and lock
them up--they'll be wanted for examination."

Mitchington glanced at the simple matters which Bryce indicated. And
suddenly he turned a half-frightened glance on his companion.

"You don't mean to say that--that you suspect he's been poisoned?" he
asked. "Good Lord, if that is so--"

"I don't think you'll find that there's much doubt about it," answered
Bryce. "But that's a point that will soon be settled. You'd better tell
the Coroner at once, Mitchington, and he'll issue a formal order to Dr.
Coates to make a post-mortem. And," he added significantly, "I shall be
surprised if it isn't as I say--poison!"

"If that's so," observed Mitchington, with a grim shake of his head, "if
that really is so, then I know what I shall think! This!" he went
on, pointing to the dead man, "this is--a sort of sequel to the other
affair. There's been something in what the poor chap said--he did know
something against somebody, and that somebody's got to hear of it--and
silenced him. But, Lord, doctor, how can it have been done?"

"I can see how it can have been done, easy enough," said Bryce. "This
man has evidently been at work here, by himself, all the morning. He of
course brought his dinner with him. He no doubt put his basket and his
bottle down somewhere, while he did his work. What easier than for some
one to approach through these trees and shrubs while the man's back was
turned, or he was busy round one of these corners, and put some deadly
poison into that bottle? Nothing!"

"Well," remarked Mitchington, "if that's so, it proves something
else--to my mind."

"What!" asked Bryce.

"Why, that whoever it was who did it was somebody who had