What did he say?'
'He's coming over at once. We are to “use the utmost discretion”.'
Her father made a sound of annoyance.
'That's just the sort of idiotic thing George Lomax would say. However, once he comes, I shall wash my hands of the whole affair.'
He appeared to cheer up a little at the prospect.
'And the name of the murdered man was Count Stanislaus?' queried the doctor.
A lightning glance passed between father and daughter, and then the former said with some dignity:
'Certainly. I said so just now.'
'I asked because you didn't seem quite sure about it before,' explained Cartwright.
There was a faint twinkle in his eye, and Lord Caterham looked at him reproachfully.
'I'll take you to the council chamber,' he said more briskly.
They followed him, the inspector bringing up the rear, and darting sharp glances all around him as he went, much as though he expected to find a clue in a picture frame, or behind a door.
Lord Caterham took a key from his pocket and unlocked a door, flinging it open. They all passed into a big room panelled in oak, with three french windows giving on the terrace. There was a long refectory table and a good many oak chests, and some beautiful old chairs. On the wails were various paintings of dead and gone Caterhams and others.
Near the left-hand wall, about halfway between the door and the window, a man was lying on his back, his arms flung wide.
Dr Cartwright went over and knelt down by the body. The inspector strode across to the windows, and examined them in turn. The center one was closed, but not fastened. On the steps outside were footprint leading up to the window, and a second set going away again.
'Clear enough,' said the inspector, with a nod. 'But there ought to be footprints on the inside as well. They'd show up plain on this parquet floor.'
'I think I can explain that,' interposed Bundle. The housemaid had polished half the floor this morning before she saw the body. You see, it was dark when she came in here. She went straight across to the windows, drew the curtains, and began on the floor, and naturally didn't see the body which is hidden from that side of the room by the table. She didn't see it until she came right on top of it.'
The inspector nodded.
'Well,' said Lord Caterham, eager to escape. 'I'll leave you here, Inspector. You'll be able to find me if you - er - want me. But Mr George Lomax is coming over from Wyverne Abbey shortly, and he'll be able to tell you far more than I could. It's his business really. I can't explain, but he will when he comes.'
Lord Caterham beat a precipitate retreat without waiting for a reply.
'Too bad of Lomax,' he complained. 'Letting me in for this. What's the matter, Tredwell?'
The white-haired butler was hovering deferentially at his elbow.
'I have taken the liberty, my lord, of advancing the breakfast hour as far as you are concerned. Everything is ready in the dining-room.'
'I don't suppose for a minute I can eat anything,' said Lord Caterham gloomily, turning his footsteps in that direction. 'Not for a moment.'
Bundle slipped her hand through his arm, and they entered the dining-room together. On the sideboard were half a score of heavy silver dishes, ingeniously kept hot by patent arrangements.
'Omelet,' said Lord Caterham, lifting each lid in turn. 'and bacon, kidneys, devilled bird, haddock, cold ham, cold pheasant. I don't like any of these things, Tredwell. Ask the cook to poach me an egg, will you?'
'Very good, milord.'
Tredwell withdrew. Lord Caterham, in an absent-minded fashion, helped himself plentifully to kidneys and bacon, poured himself out a cup of coffee, and sat down at the long table. Bundle was already busy with a plateful of eggs and bacon.
'I'm damned hungry,' said Bundle with her mouth full. 'It must be the excitement.'
'It's all very well for you,' complained her father. 'You young people like excitement. But I'm in a very delicate state of health. Avoid all worry, that's what Sir
'He's coming over at once. We are to “use the utmost discretion”.'
Her father made a sound of annoyance.
'That's just the sort of idiotic thing George Lomax would say. However, once he comes, I shall wash my hands of the whole affair.'
He appeared to cheer up a little at the prospect.
'And the name of the murdered man was Count Stanislaus?' queried the doctor.
A lightning glance passed between father and daughter, and then the former said with some dignity:
'Certainly. I said so just now.'
'I asked because you didn't seem quite sure about it before,' explained Cartwright.
There was a faint twinkle in his eye, and Lord Caterham looked at him reproachfully.
'I'll take you to the council chamber,' he said more briskly.
They followed him, the inspector bringing up the rear, and darting sharp glances all around him as he went, much as though he expected to find a clue in a picture frame, or behind a door.
Lord Caterham took a key from his pocket and unlocked a door, flinging it open. They all passed into a big room panelled in oak, with three french windows giving on the terrace. There was a long refectory table and a good many oak chests, and some beautiful old chairs. On the wails were various paintings of dead and gone Caterhams and others.
Near the left-hand wall, about halfway between the door and the window, a man was lying on his back, his arms flung wide.
Dr Cartwright went over and knelt down by the body. The inspector strode across to the windows, and examined them in turn. The center one was closed, but not fastened. On the steps outside were footprint leading up to the window, and a second set going away again.
'Clear enough,' said the inspector, with a nod. 'But there ought to be footprints on the inside as well. They'd show up plain on this parquet floor.'
'I think I can explain that,' interposed Bundle. The housemaid had polished half the floor this morning before she saw the body. You see, it was dark when she came in here. She went straight across to the windows, drew the curtains, and began on the floor, and naturally didn't see the body which is hidden from that side of the room by the table. She didn't see it until she came right on top of it.'
The inspector nodded.
'Well,' said Lord Caterham, eager to escape. 'I'll leave you here, Inspector. You'll be able to find me if you - er - want me. But Mr George Lomax is coming over from Wyverne Abbey shortly, and he'll be able to tell you far more than I could. It's his business really. I can't explain, but he will when he comes.'
Lord Caterham beat a precipitate retreat without waiting for a reply.
'Too bad of Lomax,' he complained. 'Letting me in for this. What's the matter, Tredwell?'
The white-haired butler was hovering deferentially at his elbow.
'I have taken the liberty, my lord, of advancing the breakfast hour as far as you are concerned. Everything is ready in the dining-room.'
'I don't suppose for a minute I can eat anything,' said Lord Caterham gloomily, turning his footsteps in that direction. 'Not for a moment.'
Bundle slipped her hand through his arm, and they entered the dining-room together. On the sideboard were half a score of heavy silver dishes, ingeniously kept hot by patent arrangements.
'Omelet,' said Lord Caterham, lifting each lid in turn. 'and bacon, kidneys, devilled bird, haddock, cold ham, cold pheasant. I don't like any of these things, Tredwell. Ask the cook to poach me an egg, will you?'
'Very good, milord.'
Tredwell withdrew. Lord Caterham, in an absent-minded fashion, helped himself plentifully to kidneys and bacon, poured himself out a cup of coffee, and sat down at the long table. Bundle was already busy with a plateful of eggs and bacon.
'I'm damned hungry,' said Bundle with her mouth full. 'It must be the excitement.'
'It's all very well for you,' complained her father. 'You young people like excitement. But I'm in a very delicate state of health. Avoid all worry, that's what Sir
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