"Dead, sir. Murdered, as you might say."
"Dead!" echoed Vernon, quite dazed.
"Strangled," said the policeman bluntly.
[CHAPTER V.]
AFTER THE TRAGEDY.
The news was as horrible as it was unexpected. Vernon had anticipated blackmail, he had even believed that in the absence of a third person The Spider might show fight. But he had never dreamed that murder would take place, as such a crime was entirely contrary to The Spider's methods. With a gasp he pulled himself together.
"Have they caught the man?" he demanded anxiously.
"What man?" questioned the constable suspiciously.
"The murderer."
"No, sir; it's not known who killed Mr. Dimsdale. He was found strangled in his library, some time after eleven o'clock. The alarm was given, the police were called in, and the ball came to an end. Now, sir," added the man in a friendly way, "I haven't any right to tell you more, and as what I have told you will be in the papers to-morrow, no harm's done. You go home now, sir, and you'll learn all about your friend when the inquest takes place."