Rap once more, and then if she doesn't come, throw up the window and climb in." Sweetwater did as he was bid, and meeting with no more response than before, thrust his hand through the hole made by the broken pane; and finding the window had been left unlocked, he pushed it up and entered.
In another moment he appeared at the front door, where Mr.Gryce joined him, and together they took their first look at the small but surprisingly well-furnished interior.
The hall in which they stood was without staircase and had many of the appointments of a room.

Doors opened here and there along its length, and in the rear they saw a closed one evidently leading into the yard.

There was no one within sight.

One would have said that with the death and carrying out of the owner of this little dwelling, all life had departed from it.

Yet these two men knew that life was there; and raising his voice, Mr.Gryce called out in the least alarming way possible: "Madame Duclos!" following this utterance of her name with an apology for the intrusion and a prayer for one minute's interview.
Silence was his answer--no stir anywhere.
Apprehensive of they knew not what, the two detectives started simultaneously, one for the door on their right, the other for that on the left.