uch. First he asked me if Mr. Bunner had gone to bed, and I replied
that he had been gone up some time. He then said that he wanted someone
to sit up until twelve-thirty, in case an important message should come
by telephone, and that Mr. Marlowe having gone to Southampton for him in
the motor, he wished me to do this, and that I was to take down the
message if it came, and not disturb him. He also ordered a fresh syphon
of soda-water. I believe that was all, sir."

"You noticed nothing unusual about him, I suppose."

"No, sir, nothing unusual. When I answered the ring, he was seated at
the desk listening at the telephone, waiting for a number, as I
supposed. He gave his orders and went on listening at the same time.
When I returned with the syphon he was engaged in conversation over the
wire."

"Do you remember anything of what he was saying?"

"Very little, sir; it was something about somebody being at some
hotel--of no interest to me. I was only in the room just time enough to
place the syphon on the table and withdraw. As I closed the door he was
saying: 'You're sure he isn't in the hotel?' or words to that effect."

"And that was the last you saw and heard of him alive?"

"No, sir. A little later, at half-past eleven, when I had settled down
in my pantry with the door ajar, and a book to pass the time, I heard
Mr. Manderson go upstairs to bed. I immediately went to close the
library window, and slipped the lock of the front door. I did not hear
anything more."

Trent considered. "I suppose you didn't doze at all," he said
tentatively, "while you were sitting up waiting for the telephone
message."

"Oh, no, sir! I am always very wakeful about that time. I'm a bad
sleeper, especially in the neighborhood of the sea, and I generally read
in bed until somewhere about midnight."

"And did any message come?"

"No, sir."

"No. And I suppose you sleep with your window open, these warm nights."

"It is never closed at night, sir."

Trent added a last note; then he looked thoughtfully through those he
had taken. He rose and paced up and down the room for some moments with
a downcast eye. At length he paused opposite Martin. "It all seems
perfectly ordinary and simple," he said. "I just want to get a few
details clear. You went to shut the windows in the library before going
to bed. Which windows?"

"The French window, sir. It had been open all day. The windows opposite
the door were seldom opened."

"And w