prominent barrister melchior ffoulkes , discovered dead in his study by his wife , thought to have perished by his own hand ... assorted remarks by persons who had known deceased , general shock and consternation ... coroner 's inquest to be held ... but only vague allusions to what might have caused the man 's suicide , and no hint whatever of treason or sodomitical conspiracies , and no mention of captain michael bates , let alone the other fellow hal had mentioned-otway ?