Part 8 (1/2)
”Did you unlock the library doors this morning?”
”Only the door into the main hall when I went to call Mr. Whitney,--that had nothing but an ordinary lock; but the other door, into the south hall, was unlocked and the keys gone when I first went into the library.”
”One question more. Do you know whether any one else in the house had knowledge of or access to, these particular keys?”
”I don't know for certain, sir, but I think not.”
The attorney was next called upon, and came forward, while Hardy resumed his former place among the servants.
”Mr. Whitney,” said the coroner, after the witness had given the details of his arrival in the tower-room in response to the valet's summons, ”will you please state when, and under what circ.u.mstances, you last saw Hugh Mainwaring living.”
”At nearly eleven o'clock last night. Mr. Mainwaring had just bidden his guests good-night, and I believe they had all retired to their rooms, leaving him and myself together upon the veranda in front of the house. I remained with him about ten minutes, I should judge, talking over the events of the day which had been of unusual interest. I remember his remarking that he should not retire for an hour or so, as, to use his own expression, his thoughts would not let him sleep. We clasped hands with an exchange of good wishes.
That was the last I ever saw him living or heard him speak.”
Mr. Whitney's voice trembled slightly towards the close of his recital, but as he repeated Hugh Mainwaring's words a smile of scorn pa.s.sed over the face of Mrs. LaGrange, who was seated directly opposite.
”Will you please state,” said the coroner, ”how Mr. Mainwaring had been engaged during the day, yesterday.”
”Until about half-past two his time was spent in the preparation, with the a.s.sistance of his secretary and myself, and the execution of his last will and testament. The remainder of the day was devoted to the entertainment of his guests.”
”Will you give briefly and in general terms the conditions of the will.”
”With the exception of an annuity to his housekeeper and a handsome bequest to her son, it conveyed everything to his cousin and namesake, Hugh Mainwaring, Jr., whom he intended to-day to formally declare his heir.”
”Where was this doc.u.ment placed, Mr. Whitney?”
”It was, at Mr. Mainwaring's request, placed by his secretary on his desk in the tower-room.”
”You can give no further information regarding this will, now missing?”
”Only this,” replied Mr. Whitney, with marked emphasis, ”that we now have positive proof that the will was burned.”
There was a general movement of surprise, both among the members of the household and outsiders; and the attorney, closely observant of Mrs. LaGrange, saw her cheek, which but a moment before, at his mention of the annuity contained in the will, had flamed with anger, suddenly a.s.sume a strange pallor.
”Mr. Whitney,” continued the coroner, having consulted a small memorandum which he held, ”do you know whether there were any strangers at Fair Oaks yesterday?”
”I have no personal knowledge on that subject. The secretary informs me that a stranger inquired for Mr. Mainwaring in the afternoon, and remarks were made at luncheon, that impressed me considerably, regarding some one who had called in the forenoon, whether to see Mr.
Mainwaring I am not prepared to state.”
”Will you state the nature of those remarks?”
”I should prefer to be excused until later in this examination. For the present, I will merely say that one of Mr. Mainwaring's guests incidentally met and recognized this caller; that the latter was evidently well and unfavorably known by both Mr. Mainwaring and his guests, and, if I am not mistaken, by the secretary also, and that the mention of the man's name seemed to affect Mr. Hugh Mainwaring very unpleasantly.”
”In what respect, Mr. Whitney?”
”He grew very pale and appeared confused, if not alarmed, on learning that the man was in this country and had been seen at this house, and he seemed abstracted and very unlike himself for fully an hour after the occurrence.”