ony was decidedly convincing, I was certain of being held for
trial as either an accomplice or the principal in Robert Ashton's
murder.

My own examination was short. I told my story as the reader already
knows it, and I told it without any hitch or hesitation. If my reasons
for taking the cake of soap from Ashton's room seemed weak, I could only
inform the magistrate that they were nevertheless the ones which had
actuated me. If my failure to speak of the matter to McQuade seemed
suspicious, I could only say in reply that I had not thought it of
sufficient importance to mention to him. I testified that I had last
seen Miss Temple, on that fatal night, when she bade me good-night in
the lower hall, and that I did not see her again until the next morning
when she came into the hall in answer to my cries. I described minutely
the manner in which I was awakened by the short, sharp cry of the
murdered man, and the sound of his heavy fall, and fixed the time as not
later than half-past five, as I had looked at my watch, mechanically,
while hurriedly throwing on my clothes. I felt that I had made a
favorable impression, but I realized that the stern facts brought out
by McQuade would need more than a favorable impression to overcome them.
At the conclusion of my testimony I requested that the Chinaman, Li Min,
be called to corroborate me as to the removal of the cake of soap from
the green room. The Chinaman was already in the witness room, but, when
brought into court, maintained a stolid silence, and even the most
strenuous efforts of an interpreter failed to elicit from him a single
syllable. It was at this point that the court adjourned for luncheon,
after which the examination was to be resumed, with the hearing of Miss
Temple's testimony.

As may well be imagined, I had no desire for food. Nor were my concern
and inward fear of the afternoon's proceedings a result of any fear that
I may have had upon my own account. I realized fully that the testimony
of the morning had been heavily against me, but I would have gladly
endured that and much more, could I have spared Muriel the coming
ordeal. The thought that she might be coming to Exeter to confess, and
thus free me from all suspicion, distressed rather than cheered me. That
she had evidence of importance to put before the court I well knew. Yet
whom could it possibly involve but herself? The Chinaman, Li Min, she
could have no possible motive, I felt, for screening, an