The white-faced servants were huddling together in the hall, with the frightened butler wringing his hands in the doorway.

Only Cecil Barker seemed to be master of himself and his emotions; he had opened the door which was nearest to the entrance and he had beckoned to the sergeant to follow him.

At that moment there arrived Dr.Wood, a brisk and capable general practitioner from the village.

The three men entered the fatal room together, while the horror-stricken butler followed at their heels, closing the door behind him to shut out the terrible scene from the maid servants.
The dead man lay on his back, sprawling with outstretched limbs in the centre of the room.

He was clad only in a pink dressing gown, which covered his night clothes.