from that particular door, he was actually in Miss Sibella's room?"
"I suppose so, sir."
"Dash it all, Sproot! You know deuced well he was there."
"Well—yes, sir."
"And now suppose you continue with your odyssey."
"It was more like the Iliad, if I may say so. More tragic-like, if you understand what I mean; although Mr. Rex was not exactly a Hector. However that may be, sir, Doctor Von Blon came immediately"
"He had not heard the shot, then?"
"Apparently not, for he seemed very much startled when he saw Mr. Rex. And Miss Sibella, who followed him into Mr. Rex's room, was startled, too."
"Did they make any comment?"
"As to that I couldn't say. I came down-stairs at once and telephoned to Mr. Markham."
As he spoke Ada appeared at the archway, her eyes wide.
"Some one's been in my room," she announced, in a frightened voice. "The French doors to the balcony were partly open when I went up-stairs just now, and there were dirty snow-tracks across the floor. . . . Oh, what does it mean? Do you think?"
Markham had jerked himself forward.
"You left the French doors shut when you went out?"
"Yes—of course," she answered. "I rarely open them in winter."
"And were they locked?"
