"Now we are beginning to come at something," cried Stillman, well pleased. "In all probability the assassin entered by way of the scuttle." He turned as though for the approval of the stolid-faced man. "Eh, Curran? What do you think of that?"
"It looks very like it, Mr. Stillman."
"At all events," spoke the coroner, "we will now examine the rooms."
He advanced and tried the door of the show room.
"Ah, locked!" said he. He turned and entered the store room, the others following. The gas was still burning; the coroner stuck a pair of big-lensed eyeglasses upon his rather high nose and gazed about him intently.
"There seems to be nothing of an informing nature here," said he, after a time. "Where is the body?"
Osborne led the way into the front room. After a glance at the ghastly, huddled figure upon the carpet near the desk, the coroner took a careful survey of the apartment.
"Did Mr. Hume employ any person to assist him?" he asked.
"The scrub-woman told me that there was a young man here always when she came during the business day for her wages. A sort of clerk, she thought."
"He will be able to tell us if anything has been disturbed, no doubt," remarked Stillman.