The Middle of Things | Page 7

the Inspector had touched the bell in the portico of
number seven, and that the door had opened, to reveal a smart and
wondering parlour-maid, who glanced with surprise at the inspector's
uniform.
"Hush! This is Mr. Ashton's?" said the Inspector. "Yes--well, now,
what is the name of the lady--the elderly lady--I saw come in just now?
Keep quiet, there's a good girl,--the fact is, Mr. Ashton's had an
accident, and I want to see that lady."
"Mrs. Killenhall," answered the parlour-maid.
"And the young lady--her name?" asked the Inspector.
"Miss Wickham."
The Inspector walked inside the house.
"Just ask Mrs. Killenhall and Miss Wickham if they'll be good enough
to see Inspector Drillford for a few minutes," he said. Then, as the girl
closed the door and turned away up the inner hall, he whispered to
Viner. "Better see both and be done with it. It's no use keeping bad
news too long; they may as well know--both."
The parlour-maid reappeared at the door of a room along the hall; and
the two men, advancing in answer to her summons, entered what was
evidently the dining-room of the house. The two ladies had thrown off
their wraps; the younger one sat near a big, cheery fire, holding her
slender fingers to the blaze; the elder stood facing the door in evident
expectancy. The room itself was luxuriously furnished in a somewhat
old-fashioned, heavy style; everything about it betokened wealth and
comfort. And that its owner was expected home every minute was
made evident to the two men by the fact that a spirit-case was set on the
centre table, with glasses and mineral waters and cigars; Viner

remembered, as his eyes encountered these things, that a half-burned
cigar lay close to the dead man's hand in that dark passage so close by.
"Mrs. Killenhall? Miss Wickham?" began Drillford, looking sharply
from one to the other. "Sorry to break in on you like this, ladies, but the
fact is, there has been an accident to Mr. Ashton, and I'm obliged to
come and tell you about it."
Viner, who had remained a little in the background, was watching the
faces of the two to whom this initial breaking of news was made. And
he saw at once that there was going to be no scene. The girl by the fire
looked for an instant at the inspector with an expression of surprise, but
it was not the surprise of great personal concern. As for the elder
woman, after one quick glance from Drillford to Viner, whom she
evidently recognized, she showed absolute self-possession.
"A bad accident?" she asked.
Drillford again looked from the elder to the younger lady.
"You'll excuse me if I ask what relation you ladies are to Mr. Ashton?"
he said with a significant glance at Mrs. Killenhall.
"None!" replied Mrs. Killenhall. "Miss Wickham is Mr. Ashton's ward.
I am Miss Wickham's chaperon--and companion."
"Well, ma'am," said Drillford, "then I may tell you that my news
is--just about as serious as it possibly could be, you understand."
In the silence that followed, the girl turned toward the visitors, and
Viner saw her colour change a little. And it was she who first spoke.
"Don't be afraid to tell us," she said. "Is Mr. Ashton dead?"
Drillford inclined his head, and spoke as he was bidden.
"I'm sorry to say he is," he replied. "And still more to be obliged to tell
you that he came to his death by violence. The truth is--"

He paused, looking from one to the other, as if to gauge the effect of his
words. And again it was the girl who spoke.
"What is the truth?" she asked.
"Murder!" said Drillford. "Just that!"
Mrs. Killenhall, who had remained standing until then, suddenly sat
down, with a murmur of horror. But the girl was watching the inspector
steadily.
"When was this? and how, and where?" she inquired.
"A little time ago, near here," answered Drillford. "This gentleman, Mr.
Viner, a neighbour of yours, found him--dead. There's no doubt, from
what we can see, that he was murdered for the sake of robbery. And I
want some information about him, about his habits and--"
Miss Wickham got up from her chair and looked meaningly at Mrs.
Killenhall.
"The fact is," she said, turning to Drillford; "strange as it may seem,
neither Mrs. Killenhall nor myself know very much about Mr. Ashton."
CHAPTER III
WHO WAS MR. ASHTON?
For the first time since they had entered the room, Drillford turned and
glanced at Viner; his look indicated the idea which Miss Wickham's
last words had set up in his mind. Here was a mystery! The police
instinct was aroused by it.
"You don't know very much about Mr. Ashton?" he said, turning back
to the two