"Yes; you'd better do so. And I think it necessary to have an autopsy. This death is mysterious, to say the least. It's unusual, too, in some of its aspects."
"Do what you like," said Thorpe, "but—but I'd rather not be present. I think I'll go down to the Cranes' and tell them,—while you—you go on with your work."
"All right," said Doctor Frost, "I'd just as lief have you out of the way. Leave me the telephone call that will reach you."
As Thorpe went off, he realized that he'd had no breakfast. He felt little like eating, but dropped into a restaurant for a cup of coffee.
He found himself totally unable to drink it, and leaving it untasted he went on to the Crane house.
He told the story to Benjamin Crane, who was shocked indeed.
"But I'm not greatly surprised," Mr. Crane said; "I've been thinking for some time that Blair didn't look well. A sort of pallor, you know, and he was thin. I don't think the Labrador trip agreed with him at all. And Peter's death affected him deeply. No; Blair hasn't been well for months."
"What are you doing here at this time in the morning, McClellan?" asked a laughing voice, as Julie Crane came into the room.
But her laughter was hushed as she was told the news.