"Merely that it is queer this woman--this stranger--if she is a stranger, should obtain admittance into the house while those who own it are away. She came on Saturday evening--at what time we are not as yet able to learn. No one saw her come. We do not know if she came alone or in the company of any one. But come she did, and entered the house. How did she get in?"
"I am as puzzled as you are, sir. But if you will let me see the body, I may be able to tell you if it is that of a stranger to me."
"We can do that later," said Derrick. "Meanwhile I wish to put a few questions. And even if this woman were not a stranger is it likely that she could enter the house?"
"No. So far as I know, my brother-in-law alone has a latch-key."
"Is there not another possessed by a young man?"
Laura looked out of the window while answering this question. "Not that I know of," she said faintly.
Derrick appeared satisfied with this reply, and took out his note-book. "Answer my questions, please," he began. "Who is Mr. Fane?"
"My brother-in-law. He is the second partner in the shipping firm of Mason, Son, and Mason."
"Oh! And why does not his name appear?"
Laura explained. "The firm is an old one," she said; "there are two partners, my brother and Walter Fane. When my father died, the firm was Mason, Son, and Mason, and as it is an old-established one, my brother did not change the name when Mr. Fane became a partner."