"I'm sorry to say he is," he replied. "And still more to be obliged to
tell you that he came to his death by violence. The truth is--"

He paused, looking from one to the other, as if to gauge the effect of
his words. And again it was the girl who spoke.

"What is the truth?" she asked.

"Murder!" said Drillford. "Just that!"

Mrs. Killenhall, who had remained standing until then, suddenly sat
down, with a murmur of horror. But the girl was watching the
inspector steadily.

"When was this? and how, and where?" she inquired.

"A little time ago, near here," answered Drillford. "This gentleman, Mr.
Viner, a neighbour of yours, found him--dead. There's no doubt, from what
we can see, that he was murdered for the sake of robbery. And I want some
information about him, about his habits and--"

Miss Wickham got up from her chair and looked meaningly at Mrs.
Killenhall.

"The fact is," she said, turning to Drillford; "strange as it may seem,
neither Mrs. Killenhall nor myself know very much about Mr. Ashton."