Mrs. Trennett, the housekeeper, was incoherent in her voluble anxiety to give information. The maids were almost too frightened to speak, and from none was anything tangible extracted. No one had any reason for being near the library late at night. When Peters' turn came, he told his story with a clearness and economy of words that caused Malcolm Sage mentally to register him as a good witness. He was a superior kind of man, who had been in his present position only some six months; but during that time he had given every satisfaction, so much so that Mr. Challoner had remarked to Sir James that he believed he had found a treasure. According to Peters' account, at a quarter-past eleven on the previous evening he had gone to the library, as was his custom, to see if there were anything else that Mr. Challoner required before he locked up for the night. On being told there was nothing, he had accordingly seen to the fastenings of doors and windows and gone to bed. "What was Mr. Challoner doing when you entered the room?" enquired Malcolm Sage, intent upon a design he was drawing upon the surface of the salt. "He was sitting at the table where I found him this morning." "What was he actually doing?" "I think he was checking his bankbook, sir." "Did you notice anything strange about his manner?" "No, sir." "When you found that his bed had not been slept in were you surprised?" "Not greatly, sir," was the response. "Once before a similar thing happened, and I heard from the other servants that on several occasions Mr. Challoner had spent the night in the library, having fallen asleep there." "When you told Mr. Dane that his uncle had not slept in his room, and that the library door was locked on the inside, what did he say?" "He said, 'Good Lord! Peters, something must have happened.'" "Mr. Dane knew that on previous occasions his uncle had spent the night in his study?" enquired Malcolm Sage, smoothing out the design upon which he had been engaged and beginning another. "I think so, sir," was the response. "The pistol was the one he used at target-practice?" "Yes, sir." "Where did he keep it?" "In the third right-hand drawer of his table, sir." "He was a good shot, I think you said?" Malcolm Sage turned to Sir James. "Magnificent," he said warmly. "I have often shot with him." "Do you know of any reason why Mr. Challoner should commit suicide?" Malcolm Sage enquired of Peters. "None whatever, sir; he always seemed very happy." "He had no domestic worries?" Peters hesitated for a moment. "He never mentioned any to me, sir." "You have in mind certain events that occurred during the last few days, I take it?" said Malcolm Sage. "That was in my mind, sir," was the response. "You know of no way by which anyone could have got into the library and then out again, other than through the door or the window?"