o have given any offence, I'm sure," he said, smoothly. "None was
meant, right enough, Sir Nigel. But a policeman has an unpleasant duty,
you know. He's got to keep his eyes and his ears open. So if you find
mine open too far, any time, just tip me the wink and I'll shut 'em up
again."

"Oh, that's all right," said Merriton, mollified, and a trifle shamefaced
at the outburst. Then, with an effort to turn the conversation: "But
think of findin' 'em both, Mr.--er--Headland! Were they--very awful?"

"Pretty awful," returned Cleek, quietly; "eh, Mr. Lake?"

"God bless my soul--_yes_!" threw in that gentleman, with a shudder.
"Now then, boys, if you don't mind--" He took the attitude of a casual
acquaintance with his two assistants who helped to bear the burden. "Come
along inside. This way--that's it. Where did you say, Merriton? Into the
morning room? All right. Ah, Borkins has been getting things ready, I
see. That couch is a broad one. Good thing, as there are two of 'em."

"_Two_ of 'em, sir?" exclaimed Borkins, suddenly throwing up his hands,
his eyes wide with horror. Mr. Narkom nodded with something of
professional triumph in his look.

"Two of 'em, Borkins. And the second one, if I don't make any mistake,
answers to the description of James Collins--eh, Headland?"

Cleek gave him a sudden look that spoke volumes. It came over him in a
flash that Narkom had said too much; that it wasn't the casual visitor's
place to know what a servant who was not there at the time of his visit
looked like.

"At least--that's as far as I can make out from what Sir Nigel told me of
him the other day," he supplemented, in an effort to make amends. "Now
then, boys, put 'em there on the couch. Poor things! I warn you, Sir
Nigel, this isn't going to be a pleasant sight, but you've got to go
through with it, I'm afraid. The police'll want identification made, of
course. Hadn't you better 'phone the local branch? Someone ought to be
here in charge, you know."

Merriton nodded. He was so stunned at the actuality of these two men's
deaths, at the knowledge that their bodies--lifeless, extinct--were here
in his morning room, that he had stood like an image, making no move, no
sound.

"Yes--yes," he said, rapidly, waving a hand in Borkins's direction. "See
that it's done at once, please. Tell Constable Roberts to come along with
a couple of his men. Very decent of these chaps to give you a hand, Mr.
Lake. That's your man, Dollops, isn