heard the police talking in undertones of clues and
theories, and of a coroner's inquest, and the like; now and then he
looked curiously at Mr. Tertius, who had taken a seat in the hall and
was apparently wrapped in meditation. And still Barthorpe Herapath
remained closeted with Peggie Wynne.

A taxi drove up and deposited the butler and the coachman at the door.
Selwood motioned them inside.

"Mr. Barthorpe Herapath wants both of you," he said curtly. "I suppose
he will ask for you presently."

Kitteridge let out an anxious inquiry.

"The master, sir?" he exclaimed. "Is----"

"Good heavens!" muttered Selwood. "I--of course, you don't know. Mr.
Herapath is dead."

The two servants started and stared at each other. Before either could
speak Barthorpe Herapath suddenly emerged from the waiting-room and
looked round the hall. He beckoned to the inspector, who was talking in
low tones with the detective, at a little distance.

"Now, inspector," he said, "will you and your officer come in? And the
caretaker--and you, Kitteridge, and you, Mountain. Mr. Selwood, will you
come in, too?"

He stood at the door while those he had invited inside passed into the
room where Peggie still sat. And as he stood there, and Selwood wound up
the little procession, Mr. Tertius rose and also made as if to join the
others. Barthorpe stopped him by intruding himself between him and the
door.

"This is a private inquiry of my own, Mr. Tertius," he said, with a
meaning look.

Selwood, turning in sheer surprise at this announcement, so pointed and
so unmistakable, saw a faint tinge of colour mount to the elder man's
usually pale cheeks. Mr. Tertius stopped sharply and looked at Barthorpe
in genuine surprise.

"You do not wish me to enter--to be present?" he faltered.

"Frankly, I don't," said Barthorpe, with aggressive plainness. "There
will be a public inquiry--I can't stop you from attending that."

Mr. Tertius drew back. He stood for a moment staring hard at Barthorpe;
then, with a slight, scarcely perceivable bow, he turned away, crossed
the hall, and went out of the front door. And Barthorpe Herapath
laughed--a low, sneering laugh--and following the other men into the
waiting-room, locked the door upon those assembled there. As if he and
they were assembled on some cut-and-dried business matter, he waved them
all to chairs, and himself dropped into one at the head of the table,
close to that in which Peggie was sitting.

"