e stand. "Do you recollect, Symonds,
whether the door leading from Captain Lloyd's bedroom into the rear
hall was locked that night?"

"No, sir, it was not," replied Symonds, confidently. "It wasn't even
closed. I found it ajar when I rushed over to open it, and call for
assistance after I discovered Captain Lloyd was dead. And what's more,"
he added, "there was no key in the lock."

"Did you find any trace of the key?" inquired the judge advocate,
quickly.

"Yes, sir. Doctor Ward wished to lock the room to prevent curious
persons entering. So I searched the room, and finally found it on the
mantel in the sitting-room half hidden by the clock. I guess Captain
Lloyd was too exhausted to look about for the key, and decided to lie
down without locking the door."

"Were the other doors also unlocked?"

"Yes, sir. I have already testified that they were not locked," and
Symonds looked bewildered.

"Are you sure none of the furniture was upset in Captain Lloyd's
bedroom, Symonds?"

"Absolutely positive, sir."

"That is all, Symonds; you may go. Orderly, ask Mrs. Lane to step
here."

It was after three o'clock, but the judge advocate's manner was so full
of suppressed excitement that Colonel Andrews refrained from adjourning
the court.

"I will not detain you long, Mrs. Lane," said the judge advocate
briskly. "Kindly tell the court what furniture was in Captain Lloyd's
bedroom."

"Two beds, two chairs, a desk by the window, and two bureaus," replied
Mrs. Lane, concisely and without hesitation.

"Are you sure that is all?"

"I am."

"Which hall does Captain Lloyd's bedroom door open into?"

"The back hall, sir."

"And where does that lead?"

"To the back stairs which go down into the kitchen."

"Do these back stairs go up to the third floor?"

"No, sir; only to the second floor."

"So that you have to pass Captain Lloyd's door every time you wish to
go to the kitchen by way of the back stairs?"

"Yes, sir."

"You may go, Mrs. Lane. Orderly, tell Major Goddard that his presence
is needed here."

Goddard was not long in coming, and with Donnally's assistance again
made his way to the witness chair.

"Major Goddard," began the judge advocate, turning over the leaves of
his book, "in your direct testimony you stated that when trying to find
your way out of Captain Lloyd's bedroom you tripped over a foot-stool.
Mrs. Lane has just testified that there was not such a thing in the
room. Symonds has a