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 Walter rose to the occasion as best he might, issued orders,
and begged all who heard him to obey without question. He and his
friend Travers lifted Mary and carried her to her room. It was her