At six I shaved, descended, and went out with the dogs for a short walk; but on returning I heard of nothing unusual, and was compelled to remain inactive until near mid-day.
I was crossing the stable-yard where I had gone to order the carriage for my aunt, when an English groom, suddenly emerging from the harness-room, touched his cap, saying-- "Have you 'eard, sir, of the awful affair up yonder ?" "Of what ?" I asked quickly.
"Well, sir, there seems to have been a murder last night up in Rannoch Wood," said the man quickly.

"Holden, the gardener, has just come back from that village and says that Mr.Leithcourt's under-gamekeeper as he was going home at five this morning came upon a dead body." "A dead body!" I exclaimed, feigning great surprise.
"Yes, sir--a youngish man.

He'd been stabbed to the heart." "A man!" "Yes, sir--so Holden says." "Call Holden.

I'd like to know all he's heard," I said.

And presently, when the gardener emerged from the grape-house, I sought of him all the particulars he had gathered.
"I don't know very much, sir," was the man's reply.