"Why did you force the door?"

"He rung us up at the station and said that something or somebody
had got into the house. It was evident the poor gentleman's nerve
had broken down, sir. He said he was locked in his study. When
we arrived it was all in darkness--but we thought we heard sounds
in here."

"What sort of sounds?"

"Something crawling about!"

Bristol turned.

"Key is in the lock on the inside of the door," he said. "Is that
where you found it?"

"Yes, sir!"

He looked across to where the brass knob of a safe gleamed dully.

"Safe locked?"

"Yes, sir."

Professor Deeping lay half under the table, a spectacle so ghastly
that I shall not attempt to describe it.

"Merciful heavens!" whispered Bristol. "He's nearly decapitated!"