The whole matter was soon arranged; and Lady Margaret, taking her wonted chair, drew an embroidery-frame towards her, through which she passed the needle to and fro with the utmost calmness, while sweet Annie Walton sat with a beating heart beside Arrah Neil, who, with the tranquil fortitude that had now come over her, watched the proceedings of the intruders as if she had been a mere spectator. The magistrate placed himself pompously at the table in the midst; the officer, who had now been joined by two companions with various other articles from the earl's chamber, stood at Master Shortcoat's right hand to prompt him; and then the servants were called in singly, and asked to whom the clothes belonged which had been found. "To the gentleman who was killed," replied the man, William, who was first examined. "And where is the corpse?" demanded the officer of militia. "I do not know," replied the servant; "they took it away with them." "Was he killed at once, or did he die here?" asked the officer "He lingered a little, I believe," answered William. The justice looked at the officer, and the latter said, "You may go; see him through the hall, Watson." Another and another servant was called, and all gave the same answers till they came to the maids, who had not been so well or fully instructed by fair Annie Walton as the men had been by her aunt. Their first reply, indeed, was the same--that he was dead; but when they were interrogated as to the time of his death, they hesitated and stumbled a little; but they were generally girls of good sense, and contrived to get out of the scrape by saying that they did not know, as they had not seen him till he was dead; and all agreed that the corpse had been taken away. At length, however, at the last, appeared the scullion; and Lady Margaret's face for the first time showed some anxiety, as the girl had not been in the kitchen when she visited it, and, to say truth, had been hearing some sweet words from a soldier in the court. When the usual first question was asked her, namely, whom the clothes belonged to, she replied-- "To the gentleman who was brought in wounded." "And who died shortly after," said Lady Margaret, fixing her eyes upon her. "Do not venture to prompt her, lady," said the officer, turning sternly towards her. "Speak, girl, and tell truth. Did he die?" "I never heard as he died," answered the scullion. "Do you know where he is now?" asked the justice. "No, that I don't," replied the girl. "I have not seen him to-day." Both judge and officer gazed at her with a frowning brow, and demanded, one after the other-- "Did you see him yesterday?" Poor Annie Walton's heart fluttered as if it would have broken through her side; but the girl, after a moment's consideration, replied, somewhat confusedly-- "I don't know as I did." "Then, when did you see him last?" inquired the militia-man.