was as sharp as a razor, too."

"Do you know whether he had it on the day in question?"

"I only know that it was on the office desk that day."

"Do you know of anyone who entered the office that day who would be
likely to take it?"

"No," replied Preston; "I know of no one. You see, since we took the
new mill my partner had one office and I had another. Of course, we
were constantly going into each other's offices, but each of us
regarded the other's room as private."

"Is your office situated close to his?"

"Not far away."

"Could anyone go into his office without your hearing or knowing?"

"Yes, I suppose so, but I do not think it likely."

"And you say you know of no one who entered Stepaside's room that day?"

"No, I can remember no one."

"Were you in it that day yourself?"

"Yes. We always meet and discuss matters every morning when I do not
go to Manchester."

"And you met that morning?"

"Yes."

"Did you happen to see the knife?"

"Yes, I saw it lying on his table."

"Was Stepaside in the habit of locking his office before he went out?"

"Always. He was very particular about that. He thought he had reason
to be."

"What reason?"

"Well, he believed that we had enemies. I do not wish to enlarge upon
it now, but it's well known in the town."

This led to a number of questions wherein Paul's relationships with the
murdered man were freely discussed. Witness after witness gave
evidence of this. There could be no doubt about it. A long-standing
quarrel had existed between the late Edward Wilson and Paul Stepaside.

"There's one further question I would like to ask of Mr. Preston," said
the coroner presently. "It seems to me of very vital importance. A
knife known to belong to Paul Stepaside was found driven into the body
of the deceased. The question I wish to ask is this: Do you think it
possible that anyone could have obtained this knife without Stepaside's
knowledge and consent?"

"I am afraid not," and Preston spoke the words with a kind of gasp.

"And you, who were in your room most of the day, have no knowledge of
anyone going into his office who would be likely to take it?"

"I have no knowledge. Indeed, my partner left at midday, and I do not
remember him coming to the place at all afterwards."

At the close of this evidence Paul gave a sigh, seemingly of relief.
This might seem strange, for every word that had been spoken had seemed
to fasten the guilt more s