French gripped her by the arm. At
that moment there was the sound of an automobile stopping outside.
"Keep quiet for a moment," the Inspector whispered in her ear. "Pull
yourself together, madam. Go to the other end of the room. Don't look.
Stay there for a few moments and then get home as quick as you can."
She obeyed him mutely, pressing her hands to her eyes, shivering in every
limb. French stood back inside the room. He heard the front door open, he
heard Quest's voice outside.
"Ross! Where the devil are you, Ross?"
There was no reply. The door was pushed open. Quest entered, followed by
the Professor and Craig. The Inspector stood watching their faces. Quest
came to a standstill before he had passed the threshold. He looked upon
the floor and he looked across to the sofa. Then he looked at French.
"My God!" he muttered.
The Professor pushed past. He, too, looked around the room, and gazed at
the two bodies with an expression of blank and absolute terror. Then he
fell back into Craig's arms.
"The poor girl!" he cried. "Horrible! Horrible! Horrible!"
Craig led him for a moment to one side. The Professor was overcome and
almost hysterical. Quest and French were left face to face.
"Know anything about this?" Quest asked quickly.
"Not a thing," the Inspector replied. "We arrived, Mrs. Rheinholdt and I,
at five minutes past twelve. There was no answer to our ring. I used my
pass-key and entered. This is what I found."
Quest stood over the body of his valet for a moment.
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