Finally Coroner Hart entered the building, and was immediately accosted by the reporters.
"What's coming off ?" they inquired.
"I don't know myself," he said truthfully.

"Britz seems to think something's going to happen." It was ten o'clock precisely when Britz, Manning, Greig and the coroner passed from the chief's office into the room in which the suspects in the Whitmore mystery were gathered.

They found Luckstone in command of the situation.
"What does this mean ?" he demanded, advancing toward Britz's desk.
"It means that the coroner is about to resume his preliminary inquiry into the death of Herbert Whitmore," the detective informed him.
"And have I been summoned here as a witness or as counsel to the accused ?" "As counsel, of course," said Britz.
"Then as the attorney for Mrs.Collins and as the legal adviser of the other witnesses I wish to inform you that this proposed examination is utterly useless.

I have instructed my clients not to answer any questions." Britz's eyes swept the faces of the witnesses in a look of sharp scrutiny.

He found Mrs.Collins outwardly composed.