Westerham crossed over to Mme. Estelle and stood over her. He put his hand against her heart and listened to her breathing.
“I am afraid,” he said in a low voice to Mendip, “that we can do nothing for her. It is a bad business. Heaven forgive her for anything she has done amiss! She did her best to make amends.”
Then he drew Lowther out of the room and told him to fetch a lamp from the car. Patmore was sitting on the stairs with his face hidden in his hands.
“Never mind him,” said Westerham, as Lowther gave the man a glance, “we shall have no more trouble from that quarter.”
When Lowther had fetched the lamp Westerham took it and began rapidly to examine round the ground floor of the rambling building. He was seeking for the courtyard into which Melun had fallen.
At last they found it, and found, too, all that remained of Melun. He was battered and crushed and bruised almost beyond recognition.
Westerham set his face and straightened the twisted and distorted body out. Then began the grim task of searching the dead man's clothes. He turned out every pocket, and with a knife ripped open every lining. But the papers which he sought were not there.
He straightened himself, and picking up the lamp led the way back into the house.
By this time Kathleen, though very pale and still shaken, was quite composed. Indeed, she was now more self-possessed than the Premier. She was doing her utmost to quiet his still painful agitation.
Westerham looked into Kathleen's face, and seeing how strong and resolute it was, felt no hesitation in speaking before her.