Part 25 (1/2)

”Louis,” and I looked him straight in the eye, ”all that sounds straightforward and true. But, if you saw nothing in the office to surprise or alarm you, why did you at first deny having pa.s.sed by the office at all?”

The man had no answer for this. He was not ingenious in inventing falsehood, and he stood looking helpless and despairing. I perceived I should have to go on with my questioning.

”Was it a man or a woman you saw in there with Mr. Crawford?”

”I see n.o.body, sir, n.o.body but my master.”

That wouldn't do, then. As long as I asked him direct questions he could answer falsely. I must trip him up in some roundabout way.

”Yes,” I said pleasantly, ”I understand that. And what was Mr. Crawford doing?”

”He sat at his desk;” and Louis spoke slowly, and picked his words with care.

”Was he writing?”

”No; that is, yes, sir, he was writing.”

I now knew he was not writing, for the truth had slipped out before the man could frame up his lie. I believed I was going to learn something at last, if I could make the man tell. Surely the testimony of one who saw Joseph Crawford late that night was of value, and though that testimony was difficult to obtain, it was well worth the effort.

”And was Mr. Hall at his desk also?”

Louis stared at me. ”Mr. Hall, he was in New York that night.” This was said so simply and unpremeditatedly, that I was absolutely certain it was not Hall whom Louis had seen there.

”Oh, yes, of course, so he was,” I said lightly; ”and Mr. Crawford was writing, was he?”

”Yes, sir,” spoken with the dogged scowl which I was beginning to learn always accompanied Louis's untruthful statements.

And now I decided to put my worst fear to the test and have it over with. It must be done, and I felt sure I could do it, but oh, how I dreaded it!

”Did Mr. Crawford look up or see you?”

”No, sir.”

”And didn't Miss Florence see you, either?”

”No, sir.”

It was out. The mere fact that Louis answered that question so calmly and unconsciously proved he was telling the truth. But what a truth! for it told me at the same time that Florence Lloyd was in the office with her uncle, that Louis had seen her, but that she had not seen him. I had learned the truth from my reading of the man's expression and demeanor, and though it made my heart sink, I didn't for a moment doubt that it was the truth.

Of course Louis realized the next instant what he had done, and again he began his stammering denials. ”Of course, Miss Lloyd do not see me for she is not there. How can she see me, then? I tell you my master was alone!”

Had I been the least uncertain, this would have convinced me that I was right. For Louis's voice rose almost to a shriek, so angry was he with himself for having made the slip.

”Give it up, Louis,” I said; ”you have let out the truth, now be quiet.

You couldn't help it, man, you were bound to trip yourself up sooner or later. You put up a good fight for Miss Florence, and now that I understand why you told your falsehoods, I can't help admiring your chivalry. You saw Miss Lloyd there that evening, you heard her next day at the inquest deny having been in the office in the evening. So, in a way, it was very commendable on your part to avoid contradicting her testimonies, with your own. But you are not clever enough, Louis, to carry out that deceit to the end. And now that you have admitted that you saw Miss Lloyd there, you can best help her cause, and best help me to help her cause, by telling me all about it. For rest a.s.sured, Louis, that I am quite as anxious to prove Miss Lloyd's innocence as you can possibly be, and the only way to accomplish that end, is to learn as much of the truth as I possibly can. Now, tell me what she was doing.”

”Only talking to her uncle, sir.” Louis had the air of a defeated man.

He had tried to s.h.i.+eld Miss Lloyd's name and had failed. Now he spoke sullenly, and as if his whole cause were lost.

”And Mr. Crawford was talking to her?”