reaking it open."

"But you expressly refused him permission to do so, Walter."

"I did--you heard me. Let sleeping dogs lie is a very good motto, but
young men will be young men. I hope, however, nothing serious--"

He stopped, for Caunter had forced the door and burst it inward with
a crash. During the moment's silence that followed they heard the key
spring into the room and strike the wainscot. The place was flooded with
sunshine, and seemed to welcome them with genial light and attractive
art. The furniture revealed its rich grain and beautiful modelling;
the cherubs carved on the great chairs seemed to dance where the light
flashed on their little, rounded limbs. The silvery walls were bright,
and the huge roses that tumbled over them appeared to revive and display
their original color at the touch of the sun.

On a chair beside the bed stood an extinguished candle, Tom's watch, and
Henry's revolver. The sailor's dressing-gown was still folded where he
had placed it; his rug was at the foot of the bed. He himself knelt
in the recess at the open window upon the settee that ran beneath. His
position was natural; one arm held the window-ledge and steadied him,
and his back was turned to Sir Walter and Travers, who first entered the
room.

Henry held Mary back and implored her to wait a moment, but she shook
off his hand and followed her father.

Sir Walter it was who approached Tom and grasped his arm. In so doing he
disturbed the balance of the body, which fell back and was caught by the
two men. Its weight bore Ernest Travers to the ground, but Henry was in
time to save both the quick and the dead. For Tom May had expired many
hours before. His face was of an ivory whiteness, his mouth closed. No
sign of fear, but rather a profound astonishment sat upon his features.
His eyes were opened and dim. In them, too, was frozen a sort of
speechless amazement. How long he had been dead they knew not, but none
were in doubt of the fact. His wife, too, perceived it. She went to
where he now lay, put her arms around his neck, and fainted.

Others were moving outside, and the murmur of voices reached the Grey
Room. It was one of those tragic situations when everybody desires to be
of service, and when well-meaning and small-minded people are often hurt
unintentionally and never forget it, putting fancied affronts before the
incidents that caused them.

The man lay dead and his wife unconscious upon his body.

Sir Wal