His venerable gray hair, long and unkempt, fell back from a brow of noble proportions, the wide, high brow of the student; and a great, snow-white beard rippled down over his breast.

Save for the glassiness of the eyes the face was placid in death, even as it must have been in life.
Mutely Mr.Birnes examined the body.

A blow in the back of the head--that was all.

Then he glanced around the room inquiringly.
Everything was in order, except--except here lay an overturned cigar-box.

He picked it up; two uncut diamonds were on the floor beneath it.