Читать книгу Seven Sins онлайн

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He decided, however, that these minor mysteries must not be permitted to intrude upon that line of inquiry which he had in mind.

"You mean that you were in another room—a room which we have not seen yet—engaged in some occupation which no doubt ye will explain later, when you heard a sound. What was the sound?"

Sir Marcus raised one hand to his brow in an effort of recollection.

"I had become dimly conscious of a disturbance in the lobby. I had deliberately ignored it, supposing that Wake had returned."

"Who is Wake?"

"My butler."

"And had he returned?"

"No. Shortly after this sound interrupted me, however, (it resembled that of scuffling footsteps and other slight movements), someone rang the door bell."

"The door bell? What did you do?"

"Accepting the interruption as unavoidable, I was forced to inquire what had caused it. In the lobby on the couch, as you see him now, I found a man lying. Until I actually touched him, I did not realise that he was dead, and I had gone to the dining-room for water, hoping to revive him."