weapon!" declared Brunt. "A man could hit a blow with that thing that would break the skull without cutting the skin. Yes, there is no further doubt that Miss Carrington was murdered by a burglar. This is a burglar's weapon; this it was that crushed the shell comb to fragments, and fractured the skull, leaving the body sitting upright, and unmutilated. Death was, of course, instantaneous."

"But the jewels!" said Detective Hardy, wonderingly; "why----"

"I don't _know_ why!" said Brunt, a little testily; "that is for you detectives to find out. I have to go by what evidence I find. Can I find a broken skull and a black-jack in the same room and not deduce a burglarious assault that proved fatal? The thief may have been scared off or decided he didn't want the loot, but that doesn't affect the certainty that we have the weapon and therefore the case is a simple one. That burglar can be found, without a doubt. Then we shall learn _why_ he didn't steal the jewels."

"But the snake?" said Pauline, looking wonderingly at the Inspector; "the burglar must have been a maniac or an eccentric to put that snake round my aunt's neck after he killed her,--and nothing will ever make me believe that she allowed it there while alive!"

"That's what I say," put in Haviland; "the whole affair is so inexplicable,--excuse me, Mr. Brunt, but I can't think it such a simple case as you do,--that I think we should engage expert skill to solve the mysteries of it all."

"That must come later," and Inspector Brunt resumed his usual gravity of manner which had been disturbed by the discovery of the black-jack. "Will you now please give me some detailed information as to the circumstances? Is the house always securely locked at night?"

"Very much so," answered Haviland; "Miss Carrington was not overly timid, but she always insisted on careful precautions against burglary. She had a house full of valuable furniture, curios, and art works besides her personal belongings. Yes, the house was always supposed to be carefully locked and bolted."

"Whose duty is it to look after it?"

"The butler Haskins, and his wife, who is the cook, had all such matters in charge."

"I will interview them later. Now please tell me, any of you, why Miss Carrington was arrayed in such peculiar fashion, last evening."

"I can't imagine," said Pauline. "My aunt 

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