He followed in swift pursuit.
"For God's sake, Odette, don't, don't," he cried, as she flung herself against the door and burst into her mother's room.
One glance she gave, then she fell on the floor by the side of her dead mother, and flinging her arms about the form kissed the cold lips.
Tarling pulled her gently away, and half-carried, half-supported her back to the gallery.

A dishevelled man in shirt and trousers whom Tarling thought might be the butler was hurrying along the corridor.
"Arouse any women who are in the house," said Tarling in a low voice.
"Mrs.Rider has been murdered." "Murdered, sir!" said the startled man.

"You don't mean that ?" "Quick," said Tarling sharply, "Miss Rider has fainted again." They carried her into the drawing-room and laid her on the couch, and Tarling did not leave her until he had seen her in the hands of two women servants.
He went back with the butler to the room where the body lay.

He turned on all the lights and made a careful scrutiny of the room.

The window leading on to the glass-covered balcony where he had been concealed a few hours before, was latched, locked and bolted.
The curtains, which had been drawn, presumably by Milburgh when he came for the wallet, were undisturbed.