If you will consent to despatch a servant to the police station I will, in due time, explain to you why I have taken the liberty of being so insistent on this point."He had hardly ceased speaking before Gwen rang for a servant.She hurriedly told him what had transpired and sent him to the nearest police station.As this was but a few rods away and the messenger was fleet of foot, an officer was soon upon the scene."We were able," he said to us generally as he entered the room, "to catch Medical Examiner Ferris by 'phone at his home in F- Street, and he will be here directly.In the meantime I have been sent along merely to see that the body is not moved before his examination and that everything in the room remains exactly as it was at the time of the old gentleman's death.Did I not understand," he said to Maitland in an undertone, "that there is a suspicion of foul play?""Yes," replied George, "that is one explanation which certainly will have to be considered.""I thought I heard the Cap'n say 'murder' when he 'phoned in town for some specials.They're for detective work on this case, I reckon.
Hello! That sounds like the Doctor's rig."A moment later the bell rang and Dr.Ferris entered the room.
"Ah, Doctor," he said extending his hand to me, "what have we here?"Before I could answer he had noticed Maitland and advanced to shake hands with him.
"Is this indeed so serious as I have been told?" he asked, after his greeting.
"It seems to me likely," replied Maitland slowly, "to develop into the darkest mystery I have ever known.""Hum!" replied the Examiner."Has the body been moved or the disposition of its members altered?""Not since I arrived," replied Officer Barker.
"And before?" queried Dr.Ferris, turning to Maitland.
"Everything is absolutely intact.I have made a few notes and measurements, but I have disturbed nothing," replied Maitland.
"Good," said the Examiner."May I see those notes before I go?
You were on that Parker case and you have, you know, something of a reputation for thoroughness.Perhaps you may have noted something that would escape me.""The notes, Doctor, are at your service," George replied.
Dr.Ferris' examination of the body was very thorough, yet, since it was made with the rapid precision which comes from extended practice, it was soon over.Short as it was, however, it was still an ordeal under which Gwen suffered keenly, to judge from her manner.
The Examiner then took Maitland aside, looked at his notes, and conversed earnestly with him in an undertone for several minutes.Ido not know what passed between them.When he left, a few moments later, Officer Barker accompanied him.
As soon as the door closed behind them Gwen turned to Maitland.
"Did he give you his opinion?" she asked with a degree of interest which surprised me.
"He will report death as having resulted from causes at present unknown," rejoined Maitland.
Gwen seemed greatly relieved by this answer, though I confess I was utterly at a loss to see why she should be.
Observing this change in her manner Maitland approached her, saying:
"Will you now permit me to explain my seeming rudeness in interfering with your plan to make Mr.Browne your messenger, and at the same time allow me to justify myself in the making of yet another request?"Gwen bowed assent and he proceeded to state the following case as coolly and accurately as if it were a problem in geometry.
"Mr.Darrow," he began, "has just died under peculiar circumstances.
Three possible views of the case at once suggest themselves.First:
his death may have been due to natural causes and his last expressions the result of an hallucination under which he was labouring.Second:
he may have committed suicide, as the result, perhaps, of a mania which in that case would also serve to explain his last words and acts; or, - you will pardon me, Miss Darrow, - these last appearances may have been intentionally assumed with a view to deceiving us.The officers you have summoned will not be slow in looking for motives for such a deception, and several possible ones cannot fail at once to suggest themselves to them.Third: your father may have been murdered and his last expressions a more or less accurate description of the real facts of the case.It seems to me that these three theories exhaust the possibilities of the case.Can anyone suggest anything further?" And he paused for a reply.
"It is clear," replied Mr.Herne with portly deliberation, "that all deaths must be either natural or unnatural; and equally clear that when unnatural the agent, if human, must be either the victim himself, or some person external to him.""Precisely so," continued Maitland."Now our friend, the Doctor, believes that Mr.Darrow's death resulted from natural causes.The official authorities will at first, in all probability, agree with him, but it is impossible to tell what theory they will ultimately adopt.If sufficient motive for the act can be found, some are almost certain to adopt the suicide theory.Miss Darrow has expressed her conviction that we are dealing with a case of murder.
