We were all accustomed to death, and in terrible form, but this was different, this held a horror all its own.

I could hear the heavy breathing, we stood so motionless.
"Major Hardy,"-- and it was like sacrilege to break the silence,--"we can never clear the mystery standing here.

I've examined every room on this floor, and there is not so much as a rat in any of them.

Whoever the murderer was, he has either got away, or is hidden on some other floor--is there an attic ?" "Yes, but with no stairs; the only way to get there is by the kitchen roof.

What do you propose to do ?" "Take a moment and see if I can think it out," I said, drawing a sheet up over the dead face.