A burglar, of course.

I suppose he entered the house for the purpose of robbery, when your father awoke and jumped out of bed, there was a tussle, and the scoundrel killed him; at least, that is what I gather from the story that the groom told me." "That is near it, Sir Charles, but I firmly believe that robbery was not the object, but murder; for murder was attempted yesterday evening," and he informed the magistrate of the shot fired through the window.
"Bless me, you don't say so!" the magistrate exclaimed.

"That alters the case altogether, and certainly would seem to make the act one of premeditated murder; and yet, surely, the Squire could not have had an enemy.

Some of the men whom we have sentenced may have felt a grudge against him, but surely not sufficient to lead them to a crime like this." "I will talk of it with you afterwards, Sir Charles.

I have the very strongest suspicions, although no absolute proofs.