t, of course, in
regard to my housekeeper and chauffeur."

"Your chauffeur is a colored man?"

"Yes. He has been with me for four years. A man of good character and
habits."

"Do you know where he was at the time of the murder?"

"I do not."

"Your housekeeper--she has been in your employ a long time, also?"

"About two years."

"Was she well known to the murdered man?"

"Her acquaintance began with him at the same time as my own--less than a
month ago."

"How old is this lady?"

"She sits in the circle. You can ask her if you like. I have never put
the question to her."

Every one smiled at this sally. The housekeeper, a buxom woman of fifty
years, flushed and giggled alternately.

"Where were your other servants at the time of the murder?"

"I suppose most of them were in bed. Sam, the negro boy, was in the
kitchen, helping me to serve my guests."

"Then David Florey was not on duty that night?"

"I didn't watch Mr. Florey closely, Mr. Weldon. He was the kind of
servant that didn't seem to require watching. He helped me serve some
cold drinks immediately after dinner. I didn't see him again."

"You don't know at what hour he ventured out into the lawns?"

"I do not. I was under the impression that he was in the pantry or hall
for several hours after dinner. I can not say definitely."

"And now will you describe the crime--that is, what you yourself heard
and saw?"

"Beginning where?"

"At the beginning. Where you were, who was with you, and all you can
tell me."

"I was in this room. I don't know the exact time--it must have been
close to midnight. My guests were here with me."

"All of them?"

Nealman paused, seemingly considerably disturbed. "I can't say that all
of them were in my immediate sight," he replied at last. "My guests were
free of the house--some of them were at the billiard tables, others in
the library, and so on. I can say definitely that Mr. Marten, Mr. Van
Hope, and Mr. Killdare were in the room. Mr. Pescini was with us until
just before we heard the sound."

"How long before?"

"I can't say for certain. It didn't seem to me more than a minute or
two."

"You don't know where the others were?"

"Not exactly. I had left Mr. Fargo in the billiard room a moment before.
Major Dell and Mr. Nopp had been talking on the veranda."

"None of these men indicated any previous acquaintance with the butler?"

"None whatever. They were all northern men, from my own part of t