"You see, Bobsy," he said, "the burglar stunt won't work. I've tried, and Carter, here, he's tried, and we couldn't come within a mile of getting in or out among that art junk in the window, without making noise and commotion enough to wake the dead." "I know it," assented Bobsy. "Knew it all the time. Let's cut out Mr. Burglar. Also, Blake was on the door all the evening, and he would have looked in the studio in case of a racket." "Sure. Now, I want to fix the time of the stab act. They all say about half past eleven, but nobody knows exactly." "Of course they don't. People in evening togs never know what time it is. Why should they? They don't have to punch a clock. I think the footman would just about know, though. Servants have their hours, you know. And anyway, let's get that man in here." Blake was summoned, and, though impassive as usual, seemed ready to answer questions. He retold his story, with no appreciable deviation from what he had testified at the inquest. "Are you sure it all occurred at half past eleven?" asked Steele. "Yes, sir. I heard the chimes in the studio just before the light went out." "How long was the light out?" Roberts put in. "I should say, not more'n a minute or so. I was that scared when I heard the sounds, I can't tell about the length of time properly. But it wasn't two minutes, I'm sure, between the studio light going off and me turning it on." "Would you have turned it on, if Mrs. Faulkner hadn't told you to?" Blake considered. "I can't say. I think, yes, for I heard that 'Help!' distinctly, for all it was so faint. And I think, if I'd been on my own, I'd 'a' gone ahead. At such times a servant has to use his judgment, sir." "Right you are, Blake," said Bobsy, who had taken a liking to the footman. "Now, tell us all you know of the whereabouts of every member of the family--of the household." "I don't know much as to that. You see, I was on the hall, and I could only see those who passed through it." "Well, go clear back, to dinner time, and enumerate them." "Before dinner, everybody was in the Drawing Room, that's over the dining room, at the East end of the house. Then they all came down the grand staircase to dinner, and of course I saw them then. After dinner, the ladies had their coffee on the Terrace and the gentlemen stayed at the table. Then, when the men came out of the dining room, they pretty much scattered all over the house. Everybody was in the studio at one time, and then some went to the Billiard Room or in this Reception Room we're now in, or up to the Drawing Room. Then, about eleven, Mr. and Mrs. Truxton went home, and I showed them out. And Mrs. Faulkner and Mr. Wadsworth were in the hall at the same time. But after the Truxtons went, Mrs. Faulkner and Mr. Wadsworth went up to the Drawing Room. You see,--er----" "What, Blake?" "Well, if I may say it, sir, he's--er--sweet on her, and they two went off by themselves."