Part 6 (1/2)

”But yes. When I lay out his clothes for dinner, he then tell me so.”

Although the man seemed sure enough of his statements he was evidently troubled in his mind. It might have been merely that his French nature was more excitable than the stolid indifference of the English butler.

But at the same time I couldn't help feeling that the man had not told all he knew. This was merely surmise on my part, and I could not persuade myself that there was enough ground for it to call it even an intuition. So I concluded it best to ask no questions of the valet at present, but to look into his case later.

Parmalee, however, seemed to have concluded differently. He looked at Louis with an intent gaze as he said, ”Had your master said or done anything recently to make you think he was despondent or troubled in any way?”

”No, sir,” said the man; but the answer was not spontaneous, and Louis's eyes rolled around with an expression of fear. I was watching him closely myself, and I could not help seeing that against his will his glance sought always Florence Lloyd, and though he quickly averted it, he was unable to refrain from furtive, fleeting looks in her direction.

”Do you know anything more of this matter than you have told us?”

inquired the coroner of the witness.

”No, sir,” replied Louis, and this time he spoke as with more certainty.

”After Lambert and I came out of Mr. Crawford's office, we did just exactly as Lambert has tell you.”

”That's all, Louis.... But, Lambert, one other matter. Tell us all you know of Mr. Joseph Crawford's movements last evening.”

”He was at dinner, as usual, sir,” said the butler, in his monotonous drawl. ”There were no guests, only the family. After dinner Mr. Crawford went out for a time. He returned about nine o'clock. I saw him come in, with his own key, and I saw him go to his office. Soon after Mr. Porter called.”

”Mr. Lemuel Porter?” asked the coroner.

”Yes, sir,” said the butler; and Mr. Porter, who was one of the jurors, gravely nodded his head in acquiescence.

”He stayed until about ten, I should say,” went on the butler, and again Mr. Porter gave an affirmative nod. ”I let him out myself,” went on Lambert, ”and soon after that I went to the library to see if Mr.

Crawford had any orders for me. He told me of some household matters he wished me to attend to to-day, and then he said he would sit up for some time longer, and I might go to bed if I liked. A very kind and considerate man, sir, was Mr. Crawford.”

”And did you then go to bed?”

”Yes, sir. I locked up all the house, except the office. Mr. Crawford always locks those windows himself, when he sits up late. The ladies had already gone to their rooms; Mr. Hall was away for the night, so I closed up the front of the house, and went to bed. That's all I know about the matter, sir--until I came down-stairs this morning.”

”You heard no sound in the night--no revolver shot?”

”No, sir. But my room is on the third floor, and at the other end of the house, sir. I couldn't hear a shot fired in the office, I'm sure, sir.”

”And you found no weapon of any sort in the office this morning?”

”No, sir; Louis and I both looked for that, but there was none in the room. Of that I'm sure, sir.”

”That will do, Lambert.”

”Yes, sir; thank you, sir.”

”One moment,” said I, wis.h.i.+ng to know the exact condition of the house at midnight. ”You say, Lambert, you closed up the front of the house.

Does that mean there was a back door open?”

”It means I locked the front door, sir, and put the chain on. The library door opening on to the veranda I did not lock, for, as I said, Mr. Crawford always locks that and the windows in there when he is there late. The back door I left on the night latch, as Louis was spending the evening out.”

”Oh, Louis was spending the evening out, was he?” exclaimed Mr. Orville.

”I think that should be looked into, Mr. Coroner. Louis said nothing of this in his testimony.”