In a few minutes all the household knew the terrible truth that Sir Rupert had been found dead in his study, shot through the head, and Dombrain came to the scene of the tragedy with horror on his face, followed by Kaituna and Mrs. Belswin.
"For God's sake don't let Miss Pethram see it," said Dombrain to the butler, "nor Mrs. Belswin. It is not a sight for women."
But it was too late; they were both in the room, and Kaituna with a cry of horror fell on her knees beside the dead body of her father, while Mrs. Belswin stood looking down at the corpse with an impassive expression on her strongly-marked features.
The servants had left the room in order to send for the police, and only three persons were left with the dead man--Kaituna, convulsed with grief, kneeling by the body, and Mrs. Belswin standing beside Dombrain, both silently looking--at the dead man? No. At the weeping daughter? No. At one another? Yes.
The questioning look of Dombrain said--
"You were the dead man's enemy. Is this your work?"
Mrs. Belswin's eyes replied defiantly.
"I was, and am still, the dead man's enemy. I defy you to prove that this is my work."
They eyed one another steadily for a few moments, and then the man's eyes drooped before the fierce daring of the woman's.
There was silence in the room broken only by the sobs of Kaituna.