And, Hedges--" At this moment a slight noise was heard within the room like the sound of an extinguisher falling; as, in fact, it was.

Lord Hartledon turned towards it.
"Who is there, Hedges ?" "I--it's no one in particular, sir--my lord." What with the butler's bewilderment on the sudden change of masters, and what with his consciousness of the presence of his visitor, he was unusually confused.

Lord Hartledon noticed it.

It instantly occurred to him that one of the ladies, or perhaps one of the women-servants, had been admitted to the room; and he did not consider it a proper sight for any of them.
"Who is it ?" he demanded, somewhat peremptorily.
So Hedges had to confess what had taken place, and that he had allowed the man to enter.
"Pike! Why, what can he want ?" exclaimed Lord Hartledon in surprise.

And he turned to the room.
The moment the butler left him alone Mr.Pike's first proceeding had been to cover his head again with his wide-awake, which he had evidently removed with reluctance, and might have refused to remove at all had it been consistent with policy; his second was to snatch up the candle, bend over the dead face, and examine it minutely both with eye and hand.
"There _is_ a wound, then, and it's true what they are saying.