Upon the floor, about half-way between the desk and safe, his head resting in a small pool of blood, lay Hugh Mainwaring.  He was inclined slightly towards his right side, his arm partially extended, and on the floor, near his right hand, lay a revolver, while an ugly wound just above the right eye and near the temple showed where the weapon had done its deadly work.  The closely cut hair about the temple was singed and his face was blackened, showing that the fatal shot had been fired at close range.  There were no indications, however, of a struggle of any kind; the great revolving-chair, usually standing in front of the desk, had been pushed aside, but everything else was in its accustomed place, and the desk was closed and locked.

Ralph Mainwaring was already kneeling beside the body; Mr. Thornton and young Mainwaring, who had entered immediately after Scott and the attorney, stood speechless with horror.  With what conflicting emotions the young secretary gazed upon the lifeless form of his employer, fortunately for him at that moment, no one knew; as his mind cleared, he began to realize that his position was likely to prove a difficult and dangerous one, and that he must act with extreme caution.

The silence was first broken by Mr. Thornton, who exclaimed,-

“Terrible!  Terrible!  What do you think, Mainwaring? is this murder or suicide?”

“Time alone will tell,” replied Mr. Mainwaring in a low tone; “but I am inclined to think it is murder.”

“Murder without a doubt!” added Mr. Whitney.

“But who could have done such a deed?” groaned Mr. Thornton.

Hugh Mainwaring was attired, as when Scott had last seen him, in a rich dressing-gown; but as the secretary knelt beside the silent form and touched the left hand lying partially hidden in its folds, he gave a slight start, and, quickly passing his hand within the dressing-gown, announced in a low tone,-

“His diamond ring and his watch are both gone!”

“Robbery!” exclaimed young Mainwaring; “that must have been the object of the murderer!” While his father, glancing towards the safe, remarked,-

“We must ascertain whether anything else is missing.”

“We will make a thorough examination of the room after the coroner’s arrival,” said Mr. Whitney, “but, for the present, everything must remain as it is.”

“Should we not send for a detective at once?” Mr. Thornton inquired.

“I have already telephoned for one upon my own responsibility,” replied the attorney.

“When were you last in these rooms, Mr. Scott?” asked Ralph Mainwaring of the secretary, who had risen to his feet and was making a careful survey of the room.

“About twelve o’clock last night, sir,” was his reply; then noting a look of surprise on the faces about him, he added,-

“I came at Mr. Mainwaring’s request, as he wished to give directions regarding some work to be done this morning.”