The Squire shuddered and covered his face. The scene just enacted led his mind to the scene at the foot of the staircase—the object covered with the grey overcoat. He uncovered his face to notice what he had seen, but not noticed, previously—little Rupert lying on the sofa covered with that coat!
The coat had, after the tragedy, been taken to the study and hung over a chair, where it had remained until, half an hour ago, Mrs. Wriggs had thrown it over the sleeping child to keep him warm.
Shuddering again, the Squire plucked the coat off Rupert, and flung it through the open window, placing a skin over the boy in its place.
Then he turned again to see them carrying in the victim of the bull, and was suddenly conscious of a slight cracking noise in the ceiling of the room and the sound of something falling.
A heavy carved boss had detached itself from the mullioned ceiling and fallen upon the head of the sleeping child; the boss bore a shield on which was a golden disc, bearing in its centre a red skull.
Rupert was dead!
One of the servants found the grey coat lying on the lane outside; his attention was attracted by something which had found its way beneath the lining of the skirt.
There was a hole in the pocket where the sewing had given way, permitting the object to slip through: the object was a small, flat leathern case. It had been placed in the pocket, for fun, by Rupert on that day when he had played with the things in the safe.
Until flung from the window, the grey coat had never been away from Grange except during the short time when John Puddifoot had been owner.
J. F. Sullivan.