n
Sir Nigel and poor Mr. Wynne, and I'd 'eard 'im go out and slam the door
be'ind 'im. So I was keeping me ears peeled, as you might say."

"I see. Doing a bit of eavesdropping, eh?" asked Cleek, and was rewarded
by an angry look from under the man's dark brows and a sudden tightening
of the lines about his mouth. "And what then?"

"I kept about, first in the bathroom, and then in the 'all, keeping my
ears open, for I'd an idea that one day things would come to a 'ead
between 'em. Sir Nigel had taken Mr. Wynne's girl and--"

"Close your lying mouth, you vile beast!" spat out Merriton, vehemently,
"and don't you dare to mention her name, or I'll stop you for ever from
speaking, whether I hang or not!"

Borkins looked at Cleek, and his look quite plainly conveyed the meaning
that he wished the detective to notice how violent Sir Nigel could be on
occasions, but if Cleek saw this he paid not the slightest heed.

"Speak as briefly as you can, please, and give as little offence," he cut
in, in a sharp tone, and Borkins resumed:

"At last I saw Sir Nigel and the Doctor and Mr. West come up the corridor
together. I 'eard 'em bid each other good-night, saw the Doctor go into
'is room, and Mr. West return to the smoking-room, and 'eard Sir Nigel's
key turn in 'is lock. After that there was silence for a bit, and all I
'ears was 'is moving about and muttering to 'imself, as though 'e was
angry about something. Then, just as I was a-goin' back to me own room,
I 'eard the pistol-shot, and nips back again. I 'eard 'im say, 'Got
you--you devil!' and then without waitin' for anything else, I runs down
to the servants' 'all, which is directly below the smoking room where the
other gentlemen were talking and smoking. I peers out of the window,
upward--for it's a half-basement, as perhaps you've noticed, sir--and
there, in the light of the moon, I see Mr. Wynne's figure, crouched down
against the gravel of the front path, and makin' funny sorts of noises.
And then, all of a sudden, 'e went still as a dead man--and 'e _was_ a
dead man. With that I flies to me own room, frightened half out of me
wits--for I'm a peace-lovin' person, and easily scared, I'm afraid--and
then I locks meself in, sayin' over and over to meself the words, 'He's
done it! He's done it at last! He's murdered Mr. Wynne, he has!' And
that's all I 'ave to say, sir."

"And a damned sight too much, too, you liar!" threw in Merriton,
furiously, his face convulsed wi