as the short reply.

"And then?"

"Then I bathed, shaved and dressed just as usual. I generally dress
before Mr. Blair, and I thought nothing of his silence."

"His bedroom door was closed?"

"Yes; then, after I was dressed and about to go out to my breakfast, I
called to him through the door."

"What did you say?"

"I can't repeat the exact words, but it was only to the effect of
'good-by, old chap,' or maybe, 'I'm off, Blair,' or something of the
sort."

"And you went on?"

"I didn't hear him reply,--he usually says, 'All right, Mac,' so I
repeated my call. Then, when he didn't respond that time, I knocked at
his door."

"Fearing something was wrong?"

"N-no,--not wrong,-- I think I just wanted him to say something----"

"Why were you so anxious he should say something?" This last from
Weston, with a direct glance.

"Why, good Lord, man," Thorpe's eyes blazed, "because I am accustomed to
a reply, and when it didn't come, I naturally wondered why."

"Didn't you think he might merely be asleep?"

"I didn't think anything about that. I acted on impulse. I didn't hear
him, and I wanted to see him."

"And you did? You opened the door?"

"Yes, after I knocked twice,--then I-- I opened his door."

"It was not locked?"

"No; we never lock our bedroom doors."

"Go on,--and then?"

"Then"--Thorpe spoke slowly, as if choosing his words--"then, I saw him
lying in the bed,--still,--as if asleep. I went closer, and I saw by the
look on his face that he was dead."

"You knew that at once?" asked Middleton. "You didn't think he was only
asleep----"

"No,--the pallor was unmistakable----"

"Have you often looked upon death?"

"Never before,--except at a funeral."

"And yet you knew at once it was death you saw,--not sleep. That is
remarkable, Mr. Thorpe."

Thorpe met Middleton's eyes, and then his own fell.

"I can't help that, Doctor," he said; "I was sure,--that is,--almost
sure Mr. Blair was dead."

"Yet you called Hastings and told him Mr. Blair was ill."

"Yes,--I couldn't seem to say the--the other----"

"Why did you kill him, Mr. Thorpe?"

"I-- I kill him! Oh, I didn't!-- I told you I didn't!"

"Yes; but we can't believe you."

CHAPTER X

Evidence

The few days following Gilbert Blair's death were like a nightmare to
his friends. A search of his papers had revealed a probable address of
his mother, but a telegram sent there had as yet brought no reply and
though a letter