"A very clear statement, madam," he said. "From what you saw from the opposite pavement then, it is certain that some person who was able to move about was in this room only a minute or so before you entered it?"
"You met no one upon the stairs, or saw no one leave the flats?"
"Then either this man shot himself or some one else shot him immediately before your arrival--or rather if it was not himself the person who did it was in the room, say two minutes, before you arrived."
"I will not trouble you with any questions about the other occupants of the flats," Mr. Dorling said. "I shall have to go through the building. You say that this gentleman was with you?"
"I was," Brendon answered, "most providentially."
"You did not notice anything which may have escaped this lady? You saw no one leave the flats?"
"You know of no one likely to have had a grudge against this man?" he asked.
"There is no one else who has a key to your rooms?"
"No one except my maid, who is away in Wiltshire."
"The inference is, then," the detective said smoothly, "that this man obtained admission to your rooms by means of a false key, that he burnt some papers here and shot himself within a few moments of your return. Either that or some other person also obtained admission here and shot him, and that person is either still upon the premises or escaped without your notice."
"I suppose," Anna said, "that those are reasonable deductions."
The detective thrust his notebook into his pocket.
"I brought a man with me who is posted outside," he remarked. "With your permission I should like to search the remainder of your rooms."
"Have either of you been out of this room since you discovered what had happened?" he asked.
"Mr. Brendon went for the doctor," Anna answered. "I have not left this apartment myself."
Nothing unusual was discovered in any other part of the flat. While they were still engaged in looking round the doctor returned with a nurse and assistant.
"With your permission," he said to Anna, "I shall arrange a bed for him where he is. There is scarcely one chance in a dozen of saving his life; there would be none at all if he were moved."
"You can make any arrangements you like," Anna declared. "I shall leave the flat to you and go to a hotel."