“Not who it was, but I saw it was a man, evidently knocked down, or fallen in a fit,—as I thought. So I ran to see, and—I’ve told you the rest.” “What time was all this?” “It was twenty minutes after two.” “When you found him?” “When I found him.” “How do you know so certainly?” “I’m—I’m fond of detective work, and I thought there’d be some in this matter, and so, I did everything I could think of to help along.” “Oho, fond of detective work, are you? What have you done in that line?” “Nothing! I didn’t mean practically. But, well, theoretically. You see, I’ve read a great many detective stories——” “Yes; you were reading one this evening? Where is it? Let me see it.” Slightly embarrassed at Corson’s manner, Bob got the book and passed it over. “‘Murder Will Out.’ H’m——Say, Mr Bates, do you know where your uncle spent the evening?” “I do not.” Richard was not at all pleased with Corson’s way, and he had turned sullen. “No idea? Have you, Miss Prall?” “I’ve an idea, but I suppose you want only definite statements. Such I cannot give.” “Well, well, what _do_ you know about it? Remember, evasion or refusal to answer is by no means a point in your favor.” “What! Are you implying there’s anything in my disfavor? Am I being questioned as a possible suspect?” “Lord, no, madam! Don’t jump at conclusions.” “She didn’t!” put in Eliza Gurney. “Seems to me you’re an addlepated young fellow for a detective.” “Yes? Does any one present know where Mr Binney—is that the name?—spent this evening? Or any way to learn of his whereabouts?” “He went out about before I came on,” volunteered Moore. “The day doorman will know, or the elevator girl who brought him down.” “All right. That’s keep. Now, I want to get at the actual facts of his discovery here. It would seem, Moore, that you’re the only one who can give any information in that respect.” “I’ve already told you all I know.” “And this Mr Vail you took upstairs,—he wouldn’t know anything?” “I can’t answer for that, but when Mr Vail came in, and I took him up in the elevator, there wasn’t any sign of Sir Herbert Binney about, dead or alive!” “No; that’s so. Well, then, when you came down, and found the wounded man, you went at once for the doctor?” “Almost at once. I paused a moment, because he was trying so hard to speak, and I reasoned that if he succeeded it would be of utmost importance that some one should hear his words.” “H’m—yes, that’s so. Well, and then, he gave over trying and died, you say; and then?” “Then I ran up at once to Doctor Pagett’s apartment, it is only one flight up, and he came down as soon as he could.” “Go on from there, Doctor.” “I came right down, as soon as I could hurry on some clothes. I found Sir Binney dead, and can asseverate that he had been dead but a few moments.” “He was stabbed?” “Yes, and the weapon used was removed and must have been taken away by the murderer, as it cannot be found.”