"Well, Mr. Hart," a member of the jury finally interposed with a question, "can you say that the Glenmore as it was built conformed to the building ordinances of the city of Chicago?" "It would take a number of experts and a good lawyer to interpret those ordinances!" the architect answered testily. "I should say that they were drawn for the express purpose of being violated." There was a laugh along the reporters' bench at this retort. But the witness quickly added in his former contained manner:-- "No, the Glenmore violated the ordinances in a number of important particulars." There was a sudden hush in the room. This point had been established before by different persons who had been examined. Nevertheless, the admission coming from the architect of the ill-fated building was an important point. It might lead to other interesting admissions. "You were aware, then, when the Glenmore was being erected that it violated the ordinances?" "Yes." "Did you make any protest?" "No." "Did you know when you undertook the plans that the hotel was to be built in this manner?" "I knew that it was to be put up for a certain sum, and that a first-class fire-proof building conforming to the ordinances could not be built for that money." A number of questions followed in regard to the actual cost of the hotel and the connection of the Graves Construction Company with the owners of the building, many of which the architect refused to answer. At last the coroner returned to the one point on which he had been successful in eliciting vital information,--the character of the burned building, and the circumstances of its construction. "I suppose the building was inspected during the construction?" "Certainly." "By whom?" "As usual, by different inspectors from the building department. Mr. Murphy was there several times, I remember, and Mr. Lagrange, among others. But I think chiefly Mr. Murphy." "Were you present during their inspection?" "Not always." "Did either of these gentlemen find anything to object to in the method of construction?" "I never heard of any objection. Nothing was ever said to me. The inspectors might have talked to the contractors. But I don't think any one of them did." "Have you reason to believe that there was any collusion between the inspectors and the Graves Company?" Every one in the room knew that there must have been collusion. Nevertheless, the architect, after hesitation, said:-- "I shan't answer that, sir." "You refuse to reply?" "See here, Mr. Coroner! I am here to tell you what I know about the Glenmore,--at least so far as it concerns my own responsibility, my own work. But I am not here to testify against the Graves Construction Company. Understand that!"