45936 The evidence of the Barrymores shows that this had been his custom.
45937 On the 4th of June Sir Charles had declared his intention of starting next day for London, and had ordered Barrymore to prepare his luggage.
45938 That night he went out as usual for his nocturnal walk, in the course of which he was in the habit of smoking a cigar.
45939 He never returned.
45940 At twelve o'clock Barrymore, finding the hall door still open, became alarmed and, lighting a lantern, went in search of his master.
45941 The day had been wet, and Sir Charles's footmarks were easily traced down the Alley.
45942 Half-way down this walk there is a gate which leads out on to the moor.
45943 There were indications that Sir Charles had stood for some little time here.
45944 He then proceeded down the Alley, and it was at the far end of it that his body was discovered.
45945 One fact which has not been explained is the statement of Barrymore that his master's footprints altered their character from the time he passed the moor-gate, and that he appeared from thence onwards to have been walking upon his toes.
45946 One Murphy, a gipsy horse-dealer, was on the moor at no great distance at the time, but he appears by his own confession to have been the worse for drink.
45947 He declares that he heard cries, but is unable to state from what direction they came.
45948 No signs of violence were to be discovered upon Sir Charles's person, and though the doctor's evidence pointed to an almost incredible facial distortion - so great that Dr Mortimer refused at first to believe that it was indeed his friend and patient who lay before him - it was explained that that is a symptom which is not unusual in cases of dyspnoea and death from cardiac exhaustion.
45949 This explanation was borne out by the postmortem examination, which showed long-standing organic disease, and the coroner's jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
45950 It is well that this is so, for it is obviously of the utmost importance that Sir Charles's heir should settle at the Hall, and continue the good work which has been so sadly interrupted.