The Circular Staircase - Page 19/154

At ten o'clock the Casanova hack brought up three men. They introduced

themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the

city. The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the

aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body. The

other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself

with the outside of the house. It was only after they had got a fair

idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

I received them in the living-room, and I had made up my mind exactly

what to tell. I had taken the house for the summer, I said, while the

Armstrongs were in California. In spite of a rumor among the servants

about strange noises--I cited Thomas--nothing had occurred the first

two nights. On the third night I believed that some one had been in

the house: I had heard a crashing sound, but being alone with one maid

had not investigated. The house had been locked in the morning and

apparently undisturbed.

Then, as clearly as I could, I related how, the night before, a shot

had roused us; that my niece and I had investigated and found a body;

that I did not know who the murdered man was until Mr. Jarvis from the

club informed me, and that I knew of no reason why Mr. Arnold Armstrong

should steal into his father's house at night. I should have been glad

to allow him entree there at any time.

"Have you reason to believe, Miss Innes," the coroner asked, "that any

member of your household, imagining Mr. Armstrong was a burglar, shot

him in self-defense?"

"I have no reason for thinking so," I said quietly.

"Your theory is that Mr. Armstrong was followed here by some enemy, and

shot as he entered the house?"

"I don't think I have a theory," I said. "The thing that has puzzled

me is why Mr. Armstrong should enter his father's house two nights in

succession, stealing in like a thief, when he needed only to ask

entrance to be admitted."

The coroner was a very silent man: he took some notes after this, but

he seemed anxious to make the next train back to town. He set the

inquest for the following Saturday, gave Mr. Jamieson, the younger of

the two detectives, and the more intelligent looking, a few

instructions, and, after gravely shaking hands with me and regretting

the unfortunate affair, took his departure, accompanied by the other

detective.

I was just beginning to breathe freely when Mr. Jamieson, who had been

standing by the window, came over to me.

"The family consists of yourself alone, Miss Innes?"

"My niece is here," I said.

"There is no one but yourself and your niece?"