"Well, this is murder, anyway! Are there no signs of anything about here ?" "Don't you think his clothing looks as if he had been robbed ?" said Brereton, pointing to the obvious signs.

"That should be noted before he's moved." "I've noted that, sir," said the police-sergeant, who had bent over the body while the doctor was examining it.

"There's one of his pockets turned inside out, and all his clothing's been torn open.

Robbery, of course--that's what it's been--murder for the sake of robbery!" One of the policemen, having satisfied his curiosity stepped back and began to search the surroundings with the aid of his lamp.

He suddenly uttered a sharp exclamation.
"Here's something!" he said, stooping to the foot of a pine-tree and picking up a dark object.