await the arrival of the doctor. They followed the girl into the parlour
and stood by while she bent over the dead man. She made no demonstration
of grief, and when Ayscough presently suggested that she should go
upstairs until the doctor had come, she went quietly away.

"Hadn't we better lift him on that sofa?" suggested Lauriston.

"Not till our people and the police-surgeon have seen him," answered
Ayscough, shaking his head. "I want to know all about this--he may have
died a natural death--a seizure of some sort--and again, he mayn't--
They'll be here in a minute."

Lauriston presently found himself a passive spectator while a police-
inspector, another man in plain clothes, and the doctor examined the body,
after hearing Ayscough's account of what had just happened. He was aware
that he was regarded with suspicion--the inspector somewhat brusquely bade
him stay where he was: it would, indeed, have been impossible to leave,
for there was a policeman at the door, in which, by his superior's orders,
he had turned the key. And there was a general, uncomfortable sort of
silence in the place while the doctor busied himself about the body.

"This man has been assaulted!" said the doctor, suddenly turning to the
inspector. "Look here!--he's not only been violently gripped by the right
arm--look at that bruise--but taken savagely by the throat. There's no
doubt of that. Old and evidently feeble as he was, the shock would be
quite enough to kill him. But--that's how it's been done, without a
doubt."

The inspector turned, looking hard at Lauriston.