"Several," replied Marsden. "But I think it will save time if I give you the full details straight away. There are several peculiar features about the affair, and it's not much use discussing them until you are in possession of the facts."
Mr. Medwin folded his arms.
"Just exactly as you prefer," he remarked. "Please consider me entirely at your service."
Without wasting any more words Marsden entered upon a brief description of everything that had taken place from the moment when Colin had returned to the house. The curt and matter-of-fact fashion in which he told his story seemed somehow or other to heighten its dramatic horror, and, in spite of the solicitor's expressionless face, it was easy to see the strained attention with which he was following every word. Once or twice he seemed to be on the point of asking a question, but on each occasion he apparently changed his mind at the last moment, as though unwilling to interrupt the narrative.
"As far as I can see at present," concluded Marsden, "there are two probable lines of inquiry, both of which I propose to follow up. Either it was an ordinary case of burglary, or else the thief was after some particular object that he believed to be hidden in the study. With regard to the actual murder, I am inclined to think that it was more or less of an accident. The silly fool got rattled when the old man came in at the window, and smashed his head in before he realized what he was doing. He has probably been cursing himself ever since."
"I should say that your first suggestion was the right one," remarked Mr. Medwin. "An old-fashioned house like this, shut away from the road, is exactly the sort of place that a professional burglar would select. It's very improbable there's anything more in it than that—a sordid attempt at house-breaking, ending up in a brutal and bloody murder."
"Well," returned Marsden slowly, "I'm not altogether satisfied on the point. Take the question of this previous attempt. Granting it was the same man, why did he content himself with merely examining the desk?"
The lawyer glanced swiftly in the direction of Colin.
"Is that what the Professor told you?" he asked.
Colin nodded.