"WHY?"
Through the silent house echoed the vibration of the electric bell, sounding unnecessarily loud, it seemed.The maid who answered took the caller's card to Miss Mary Carwell, Viola's aunt.
"He wants to see Miss Viola," the servant reported."Shall I tell her?" "You had better, yes.She went to lie down, but she will want to seeCaptain Poland.Wait, I'll tell her myself.Where is he?" "In the library, ma am.
"Very well.I'll see him."
Mr.Carwell's sister literally swept down the stairs, her black silk dress rustling somberly and importantly.She was a large woman, and her bearing and air were in keeping.
"It was very good of you to come," she murmured, as she sank, with more rustling and shimmerings, into a chair, while the captain waited for her to be settled, like a boat at anchor, before he again took his place."Viola will be down presently.I gave her a powder the doctor left for her, and she slept, I hope, since we were both awake nearly all of last night.""I should imagine so.The strain and shock must have been intense.But please don't disturb her if she is resting.I merely called to see if I could do anything.""Thank you so much.We are waiting for the doctors' report.It was necessary to have an autopsy, I understand?" she questioned.
"Yes.The law requires it in all cases of sudden and mysterious death." "Mysterious death, Captain Poland!"Mary Carwell seemed to swell up like a fretful turkey.
"Well, by that I mean unexplained.Mr.Carwell dropped dead suddenly and from no apparent cause.""But it was heart disease - or apoplexy - of course! What else could it be?""It must have been one or the other of those, Miss Carwell, I am sure," the captain murmured sympathetically."But the law requires that such afact be established to the satisfaction of the county physician." "And who is he?""Dr.Rowland."
"Will there be a coroner's inquest, such as I have read about? I couldn't hear anything like that.""It is not at all necessary, Miss Carwell," went on the captain."The law of New Jersey does not demand that in cases of sudden and unexplained death, unless the county physician is not satisfied with his investigation.In that matter New Jersey differs from some of the other states.The county physician will make an autopsy to determine the cause of death.If he is satisfied that it was from natural causes he gives a certificate to that effect, and that ends the matter.""Oh, then it will be very simple."
