“And the key was found in the room.  We must also remember that there were several people in the room after the door was burst open, including the dead man’s brother.  It seems that it was he who first propounded the suicide theory to Dr. Ravenshaw, and subsequently to Pengowan.  Do you know anything about the brother?”

“I know nothing personally.  Pengowan tells me that Robert Turold secured lodgings for his brother and his son in an artist’s house at the churchtown about six weeks ago.  They arrived next day, and are still there.  I understand that the brothers have been in pretty close intimacy, meeting each other practically every day, either at the churchtown or in this house.”

“Do you know what took place at the family gathering which was held in this house yesterday afternoon, after the funeral?”

“All I know is that Robert Turold informed his family that he was likely to succeed in his claim for the title.  Mrs. Pendleton was rather vague about the details, but she did say that her brother had placed his daughter in her charge, and had made a long statement to them about his future plans.”

“She did not indicate what those plans were?”

“Only in the vaguest way.  I remember her saying that her brother was a wealthy man:  the one wealthy member of the family, was the way she put it.  Her principal preoccupation was her suspicion of the man-servant, based on seeing him listening at the door.  She was very voluble and excited—­so much so that I did not attach much importance to what she said, and did not ask her many questions.”

“It is of the utmost importance that we should find out all we can about this family council yesterday.  It is possible that it may throw some light on Robert Turold’s death.  I am not prepared at present to say whether it is suicide or not, but apart from any suspicious circumstances, I feel that there is some justification for Mrs. Pendleton’s belief that a wealthy and successful man like her brother was not likely to take his own life, unless there was some hidden reason for him to do so.  If we knew more of what happened downstairs yesterday we might be in a better position to judge of that.  The case strikes me as a very peculiar one—­indeed, it has some remarkable features.  My first task will be to interview all the persons who were present at yesterday’s gathering.  Can you tell me if the brothers were on good terms?”

“I believe so.”

“Is Austin Turold a poor man?”

“I know nothing about him.  But what has that got to do with it?”

“It may have much to do with it.  He may have stood to inherit a fortune from Robert.”

“You surely do not suspect the brother?”