"Yes. At least I suppose so. For when I returned, perhaps a quarter of an hour later, I found him lying upon the floor, just as he is now; the blood from a wound in his head was soaking into a rug and he was quite dead."
"A quarter of an hour elapsed between your leaving the room and your return?"
"During that time you heard no unusual sounds?"
"No."
"What other occupants are there here, beside you two?"
"A maid, who also does the cooking. And there is a nurse who has been attending my sister for some time past."
"Bring them here," said Dr. Shower to the policeman who had been standing at the room door during the greater part of this examination. As the man departed the assistant coroner turned his glance toward the sick girl.
"How long was your father here before your brother arrived?"
"I am not sure," she replied in her low voice. "It may have been an hour—perhaps it was more."