personality or habits of Robert Pembroke, it was difficult indeed to judge intelligently the contents and condition of his bedroom. [Pg 63] [Pg 63] VI THE INQUEST BEGINS When I returned to the drawing-room, I found the coroner had already arrived, accompanied by Inspector Crawford. Mr. Ross, the coroner, looked like a capable, active man, while Mr. Crawford's face wore the blank and inscrutable expression which is supposed to be part of the detective's stock in trade. I have often wondered whether this imperturbability is not used quite as often to cloak utter ignorance as to hide secret knowledge. They had been in the house but a few moments, and Doctor Masterson was making them acquainted with the main facts of the case. Young Lawrence was assisting in the recital, but whether because of his natural disinclination for gruesome subjects, or because of his relationship with the dead man, he seemed unwilling to talk, and referred all questions to Doctor Masterson. I took a seat, and remained a mere listener; as I knew it was not yet the time to tell of any discoveries I might have made. But beyond a brief introduction by the aged doctor and a brief acknowledgment of it by the[Pg 64] coroner, little attention was paid to me, and I listened with interest to Mr. Ross's pertinent questions and quick decisions. [Pg 64] Being possessed of the facts of the case, and having learned all that those present could tell him, the Coroner determined to hold a preliminary inquest right then and there. Although as a lawyer I have had more or less experience in these matters it seemed to me an incredibly short space of time before a jury was impanelled and the examination of witnesses begun. There were but a half-dozen men on the jury, and these seemed to spring up out of the very ground. As a matter of fact, Inspector Crawford had gone out and brought some back with
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