The corpse lay quiet and rigid under the sheet, and the feeble candle light made the room look quite funereal. To keep up appearances, as Fairburn was casting occasional glances from the doorway, Browne turned back the sheet and examined the corpse, telling Kind to bring water, and towels, and various other things, so as to give him a chance of moving unsuspected round the chamber. In this way, Sweetlips, by using the keen eyesight with which Nature had endowed him, to say nothing of his clever brain, saw a great deal.
"I'll open the window," he said aloud, and went to the dressing-table which was immediately before the casement. Here he remained for a little time, examining the position of the glass, and the table, both of which he noted had been moved. Then he moved round the room, apparently still under the doctor's orders to quell the suspicions of Fairburn, and when the constable was not looking, stooped to pick something off the floor. Near the bed was a small table covered with a red cloth, and on this were writing materials, which Kind also examined. Finally, he came to the bed, and looked at the corpse, at the crimsoned pillow and sheets, and at the heavy rep-curtain which draped the couch. A nudge told Browne that Sweetlips had seen all that he wished to see, and the two departed.
"It's all right, constable," said Browne, giving the key to the man, who yawned on receiving it. "The regular doctor will come to-morrow, and you can tell him, if I am not here, that I have seen the corpse twice."
"Yes, sir," said Fairburn saluting, and tramped down the passage after locking the door, still yawning. Kind was perfectly satisfied that the inattentive policeman had guessed nothing of the real reason for the visit to the death-chamber. He turned to Browne, who was holding the candle.
"What of the room Herries slept in?" he asked in a low voice, and with more of the detective's peremptory manner than the Cheap-jack's careless ease.
"It is mine to-night," replied the doctor, and opened the door of the adjacent room. "Why do you wish to----?"
"I might find something here also. Wait!"
Taking the candle, he entered the room, and Browne, marvelling at the sudden assumption of authority by the man, waited in the passage. He was impressed by Kind's resolution, and careful handling of the situation, and began to think that here indeed was an ally worth having. Even the Cheap-jack's language had changed, and he spoke a tongue considerably removed from the slang vernacular which he affected as the proprietor of the caravan. When he came out, Browne, on fire with curiosity, asked him what discoveries he had made.
"I've found much, but much remains to be found," said Kind, shaking his head. "When we reach the caravan, I'll tell you what I think. That is----?" he hesitated, looked anxiously at Browne's open face, and then abruptly descended the stairs. Elspeth was already in the tap-room, and apparently had just returned. On seeing Kind she glided up to him, and said something in a low voice. He nodded.
"Rachel is awake," he remarked aloud, turning to the doctor, "'praps you'll come along and see her."