For more than a minute he stared at it helplessly; then a new thought shot across his mind and his lips drew together in a thin, hard line.

The road to revenge lay open before him! With an abrupt gesture he stepped forward and pulled back the counterpane.
In the yellow lamp-light the thin face of the dead man had an ashen hue; the half-opened eyes and the prominent teeth, from which the lips had partly receded, confronted him grewsomely.

But the force of his disappointment and rage was something before which mere human horror was swept aside.

With another rapid movement, he stooped over the bed and unclasped the thin gold chain that hung round the dead man's neck, letting the metal symbol and the long, thin key slip from it into his hand.

Turning to the dressing-table, he caught up a lamp; hurried from the room; and, descending the stairs, passed into the study.
To his excited glance the place looked strangely undisturbed.