“Inspector!” she cried. “What has happened? Oh, my God!”
She covered her face with her hands. French gripped her by the arm. At that moment there was the sound of an automobile stopping outside.
“Keep quiet for a moment,” the Inspector whispered in her ear. “Pull yourself together, madam. Go to the other end of the room. Don’t look. Stay there for a few moments and then get home as quick as you can.”
She obeyed him mutely, pressing her hands to her eyes, shivering in every limb. French stood back inside the room. He heard the front door open, he heard Quest’s voice outside.
“Ross! Where the devil are you, Ross?”
There was no reply. The door was pushed open. Quest entered, followed by the Professor and Craig. The Inspector stood watching their faces. Quest came to a standstill before he had passed the threshold. He looked upon the floor and he looked across to the sofa. Then he looked at French.
“My God!” he muttered.
The Professor pushed past. He, too, looked around the room, and gazed at the two bodies with an expression of blank and absolute terror. Then he fell back into Craig’s arms.
“The poor girl!” he cried. “Horrible! Horrible! Horrible!”
Craig led him for a moment to one side. The Professor was overcome and almost hysterical. Quest and French were left face to face.