As this was what I was impatient to do, I consented.

“You see, it’s this way,” he said, in a confidential whisper, as we traversed the long hall:  “there is no doubt in any one’s mind as to who committed the murder, but no name has been mentioned yet, and nobody wants to be the first to say that name.  It’ll come out at the inquest, of course, and then—­”

“But,” I interrupted, “if the identity of the murderer is so certain, why did they send for me in such haste?”

“Oh, that was the coroner’s doing.  He’s a bit inclined to the spectacular, is Monroe, and he wants to make the whole affair as important as possible.”

“But surely, Mr. Parmalee, if you are certain of the criminal it is very absurd for me to take up the case at all.”

“Oh, well, Mr. Burroughs, as I say, no name has been spoken yet.  And, too, a big case like this ought to have a city detective on it.  Even if you only corroborate what we all feel sure of, it will prove to the public mind that it must be so.”

“Tell me then, who is your suspect?”

“Oh, no, since you are here you had better investigate with an unprejudiced mind.  Though you cannot help arriving at the inevitable conclusion.”

We had now reached a closed door, and, at Mr. Parmalee’s tap, were admitted by the inspector who was in charge of the room.

It was a beautiful apartment, far too rich and elaborate to be designated by the name of “office,” as it was called by every one who spoke of it; though of course it was Mr. Crawford’s office, as was shown by the immense table-desk of dark mahogany, and all the other paraphernalia of a banker’s work-room, from ticker to typewriter.

But the decorations of walls and ceilings, the stained glass of the windows, the pictures, rugs, and vases, all betokened luxurious tastes that are rarely indulged in office furnishings.  The room was flooded with sunlight.  Long French windows gave access to a side veranda, which in turn led down to a beautiful terrace and formal garden.  But all these things were seen only in a hurried glance, and then my eyes fell on the tragic figure in the desk chair.

The body had not been moved, and would not be until after the jury had seen it, and though a ghastly sight, because of a bullet-hole in the left temple, otherwise it looked much as Mr. Crawford must have looked in life.

A handsome man, of large physique and strong, stern face, he must have been surprised, and killed instantly; for surely, given the chance, he would have lacked neither courage nor strength to grapple with an assailant.

I felt a deep impulse of sympathy for that splendid specimen of humanity, taken unawares, without having been given a moment in which to fight for his life, and yet presumably seeing his murderer, as he seemed to have been shot directly from the front.

As I looked at that noble face, serene and dignified in its death pallor, I felt glad that my profession was such as might lead to the avenging of such a detestable crime.