The Rayner-Slade Amalgamation

atching of his breath, he made one step to his cousin's side and laid his hand on the unyielding shoulder. Th

d!" he exclaimed.

the rigid features, one touch of the already fixed and statue-like body, to know that James Allerdyke was not only dead, but

had pitched his camp for presumably a single night. His toilet articles were spread out on the dressing-table; his pyjamas were laid across his pillow; his open suit-case lay on a stand at the foot of the bed; by the bedside lay his slippers. An overcoat

ows above his closed eyes. His hands were lying at his sides, unclasped, the fingers slightly stretched, the thumbs slightly turned inward; everything looked as if, in the very act of taking off his boots, some sudden spasm of pain had seized him, and he had sat up, leaned back, and died, as swiftly as the seizure had come. There was a slight blueness under the lower rims o

llerdyke out into the corridor. Unconsciously he shook his

mechanically. "Here's-I knew something

hich he had been to fetch. When he straightened hi

Why, he looked the picture of health la

Allerdyke. "He's lying

and great beard had looked out, opened again, and the big head

rds them in his pyjamas. "If there's any i

whether the man was an Englishman or a foreigner; he fancied that he detec

body can be of use. The truth is, I came to join my cousin here, and I find him dead. Seems to m

following closely behind him. At sight of the dead m

aid. "Mr.

?" demanded Marshal

body, bestowing a light touch on f

ered. "I met him there-at a hotel. I had several

Of what!" ask

why I talked with him. I gathered from what he told me that he was a man who lived a

ious impatience. "Why, I always considered

ymen, sir, do not see what a trained ey

at whom the night-porter was

e. In reality, he was gazing into space,

he asked, suddenly turning on his companio

shook his h

upon him quite suddenly. You see, he was in the act of taking off his boots. He is a little fleshy-stout. The e

lly. "Well-what's to be done!" he went on. "Wh

tainly testify to what I had observed. But that comes later-at present you had better acquaint the manager of the hotel, and I should suggest sending for a l

d Allerdyke. "Very kind

ranger. "I will give you my card prese

led out his o

glance at the still figure. "And, my conscience, I never thought to find him like this!

l man?" asked Dr. Lydenberg. "It

cinated. "Look here!" he said. "We don't want any fuss. Just rouse the manager quietly, and ask him to come here. And fi

ght-porter. "There's Dr. Orwin, in Coltman Street-he's gen

send me my driver first-I want

ntil Gaffney came hurrying along the corridor. Aller

er, I think, across the passage there, who says it's been heart failure. I've sent for another doctor. Now in the meantime, I want to see what my cousin's

re; again, he might not, there might have been foul play; there might have been one of many reasons for his unexpected death-anyway, in Allerdyke's opinion it was necessary for him to know exactly what James was carrying about his person when death took place. There was a small hand-bag on the dressing-table; Allerdyke opened it and took out all its contents. They were few-a muffler,

ss, a purse full of gold, loose silver, a note-case containing a considerable sum in bank-notes, some English, some foreign, letters and pap

spered the chauffeur at last. "

he foot of the bed, closed and locked it, and dropped the bunch of keys in his pocket. And just then Dr. Lydenberg came back, dressed, and on

nd the two medical men had begun a whispered conversation beside

my cousin when he arriv

supper. It was nothing much-he merely wished to know if there was always a night-porter on duty. He said he expected a fri

"Now, how did he seem at that

in the very best of health and spirits! I was astonished to hear

me away from the bed

ow-I have little doubt that this gentleman died of what is commonly called heart failure," he said. "There will

ent, and then spoke bluntly. "You don't think i

lips and regarded his

ered, do you m

determinedly. "I don't understand about this heart-failure notion," he went on. "I never heard him c

porary colleague, who nodded as if in assent. Then he turned back to Allerdyke. "If you'll

by the manager and Gaffney he left the room, and with him he carried t