The Shadow of the Dead Hand by Fred M. White

Naturally enough, the tragedy at the house in Marrion-square gripped the public imagination, so that, when the inquest came to be held, there was a rush to be present to hear what would obviously be sensational details. As a matter of fact, there was nothing that even the Press could make much copy from. When the police came to make inquiries, they discovered that Felix Murdstone was not a millionaire at all, but, on the contrary, he had been up to his neck in debt. Even the house in Marrion-square was not his own, but had been rented furnished from an absentee landlord, who had not even received his first quarter's rent. The office in the city boasted no more than two clerks, and, when they came to be cross-examined they had to admit that their work was more or less of a sinecure, and that such correspondence as came to the firm was invariably dealt with by Felix Murdstone himself.

The room in which the inquiry was held was crammed to its utmost capacity. The first witness called was Countess Visconti. It will be remembered that the marriage of her daughter had taken place at Marrion-square, which had been lent to her for the purpose of the wedding reception and the evening party afterwards.