Chapter 4

The full report began by describing the little village of Riddlesdale, where the Duke had recently taken a small shooting box for the season. When the tragedy occurred the Duke had been staying there with a party of guests. In the duchess absence lady Joanne had acted as hostess. The other guests were Jack and Mrs Mary , the Hon. Tock , Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, and the dead man, Dan .

The first witness was the Duke who claimed to have discovered the body. He gave evidence that he was coming into the house by the conservatory door at five o'clock in the morning of Wednesday, may 24 , when his foot struck against something. He had switched on his electric lamp and seen the body of Dan at his feet . He had at once turned it over, and seen that Dan had been shot in the chest . He was quite dead. As Denis was bending over the body, he heard a cry in the conservatory, and looking up, and saw lady Joanne gazing out horror struck. She came out by the conservatory door, and exclaimed at once. O God, you have killed him! The coroner . We're you surprise by that remark? Dukk.. Well, I was so shocked and surprised at the whole thing. I think I said that to her , don't look, and she said OH , it's Dan ! Whatever can have happened? Has there been any accident ? I stayed with the body, and sent her up to rouse the house.