The others led him into the next room, the magistrate going ahead with a lamp. The judge called for more lights and the group stood around the pool of blood on the floor of the study. Muller’s arms were crossed on his breast as he stood looking down at the hideous spot. There was no terror in his eyes, as in those of the others, but only a keen attention and a lively interest.
“Who has been in this room since the discovery?” he asked.
The doctor replied that only the servants of the immediate household, the notary, the magistrate, and himself, then later the Count and the district judge entered the room.
“You are quite certain that no one else has been in here?”
“No, no one else.”
“Will you kindly send for the three servants?” The magistrate left the room.
“Who else lives in the house?”
“The sexton and the dairymaid.”
“And no one else has left the house to-day or has entered it?”
“No one. The main door has been watched all day by a gendarme.”