“You say it is true—all of it?” “Every word, sir.” The girl’s eyes were of a dull gray, but they had a penetrating gaze that was a bit irritating. But both eyes and voice carried conviction. None of Jennie’s listeners was the kind to be hoodwinked, and moreover we all rather fancied ourselves as being able to discern between true and false witnessing. And as we found later, when we compared notes, each of us was thoroughly impressed with the indubitable truthfulness of this strange girl with her strange story. “And you’ve not told this before?” “No, sir.” “Why not?” “I wasn’t asked.” “Who asked you now?” “Mrs. Moore, sir, and then Mr. Moore, and then yourself.” “Yes, I see. Well, Jennie, can you keep this story secret for a time?” “If nobody asks me about it.” “But look here, girl, you are in the command of the law, and I order you not to tell this. You’re bound to obey me, or you will be put in prison. See, in prison!” “I shouldn’t like that, sir.” But even this avowal brought no change of countenance or gleam of fear to the gray eyes. “You bet you wouldn’t. But that’s what you’ll get if you tell.” “Yes, sir.” “Will you keep still about it?” “If nobody asks me, sir.” March looked utterly disgusted, but Lora took the matter in hand. “Leave it to me, Mr. March,” she said. “I think I can answer for Jennie’s obedience to your order so long as she stays with me.” “I like you,” said Jennie, gazing at her. “Of course you do,” said Lora, heartily, “and I like you. We’re going to be great friends. Now, Mr. March, any more questions before I put our star witness to bed?” “A few only. Jennie, did you see Miss Remsen come to the house, or only go away?” “Only go away.” “Do you suppose she came to the house in her boat?” “She must have done so, she always comes that way. But she could not have gone in by the window.” “No. How did she get in, then?” “By the door, I suppose. Miss Remsen had a key.” “Then, why did she leave by the window?” “That’s what I don’t know,” the gray eyes clouded. “That’s what I can’t make out.” “It is a hard problem. What time was it when you saw her go away?” “I’ve no idea. We all go to bed at ten, if it isn’t our night out. So I went to my room about ten, but I couldn’t sleep.” “Hadn’t you been asleep at all, when you saw the girl and the boat?” “Yes, I think so. I’m quite sure I had. But my watch wasn’t going, and so I don’t know what time it was.” “Don’t you have a timepiece to get up by?” “Mrs. Fenn raps on our doors, sir, then we get up.” “I see. Well, you say it was moonlight. Do you know where the moon was, in the sky?” “Oh, yes, it was just disappearing behind Mr. Tracy’s wing.” “Then we can track the time down by that,” said March, with a nod of satisfaction. “Given the date and the position of the moon, that’s easy.” “Jennie,” said Keeley, thoughtfully, “did Miss Remsen have anything in her hands when she dived from the window?”