The black box!
"What do you mean?" Lady Ashleigh faltered. "What do you mean, Williams?"
The man shook his head. He seemed almost incapable of speech.
"Something has happened to the master!"
They all trooped out of the room and up the stairs, the Professor leading
the way. They pushed open the door of Lord Ashleigh's bedchamber. In the
far corner of the large room was the four-poster, and underneath the
clothes a silent figure. The Professor turned down the sheets. Then he
held out his hand. His face, too, was blanched.
"Julia, don't come," he begged.
"I must know!" she almost shrieked. "I must know!"
"George is dead," the Professor said slowly.
There was a moment's awful silence, broken by a piercing scream from Lady
Ashleigh. She sank down upon the sofa and the Professor leaned over her.
Quest turned to the little group of frightened servants who were gathering
round the doorway.
"Telephone for a doctor," he ordered, "also to the local police-station."
[Illustration: "FOR GOD'S SAKE, COME! MY MASTER HAS BEEN STRANGLED TO
DEATH."]
[Illustration: "LADY ASHLEIGH, I WILL FIND AND BRING TO JUSTICE, THE
CRIMINAL."]
He, too, approached the bed and reverently lifted the covering. Lord
Ashleigh was lying there, his body a little doubled up, his arms wide
outstretched. On his throat were two black marks.
"Where is the valet--Williams?" Quest asked, as he turned away.
The man came forward.
"Tell us at once what you know?" Quest demanded.
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