"I will tell you what I want you to do," I said then. "I want you to
join me in insisting on having a post-mortem examination."
She gave me a glance of horror.
"Why?" she asked. "Why must the sleep of the dead be disturbed?"
Before I could answer her, Lord Hartmore's voice was heard at the door.
She was a brave woman, but at the sound of her husband's voice her
courage for a moment deserted her.
"How--how can I break it to him?" she gasped. "Oh, please, don't leave
me."
"No," I said, "I will stay with you."
I unlocked the door myself, and a white-headed, feeble-looking man came
querulously into the room.
His wife rose to meet him. She put her arms around him and some way,
somehow, conveyed the terrible tidings to his mind. I need scarcely
linger over the hour that followed. At the end of that time I was
accompanying the Hartmores back to Penporran. During the journey my
companions were almost completely silent. Lady Hartmore kept her
veil down, and, I felt sure, wished to avoid speaking to me. The old
lord was completely prostrated with grief. Not by word or hint had
either parent given me the slightest clue by which I could insist on a
post-mortem examination. Their son had evidently enjoyed perfect health
during his brief life. I saw that circumstances were very black against
Carleton.
It was evening when we reached Penporran. Lord and Lady Hartmore went
at once to a private suite of rooms which had been got ready for their
reception. As soon as I could I sought an interview with Brabazon.
"Most of our visitors have left us," he said. "But Miss Farnham and, of
course, Carleton, remain. The inquest is to take place in the library
at an early hour to-morrow."