“Give me time to think,” he said, after a pause. “I don’t seem to remember.” “Did you come up here before your mother and Mr. Maynard came up for the night?” “Oh, yes; I heard them come up and go to their rooms.” “Did they engage in conversation?” “They did not,” was the hesitating reply. “To tell the truth, they were not on good terms with each other last night. That makes this affair all the more terrible for mother.” “Do you know the nature of their quarrel?” “I do not.” “Did you leave your room for any purpose after they came up here?” “I did not.” “Until when?” “This morning.” “Then you went to Mr. Maynard’s room?” “I went to mother’s room first. You see, I had been attacked, and my first idea on regaining consciousness was that some one else might have been wounded.” “That was quite early?” “Just after daylight.” “Where did you find your mother?” “Lying on the floor. I placed her on the bed and went on to Mr. Maynard’s room. I found him dead, as you know.” “Did you move the body?” “I did not.” This with a shudder of horror. “Were you dressed?” “I was not. I had just tumbled off the bed, where I had fallen, or been thrown by the robbers. I think I had my trousers and socks on, that is all. You must understand that about this time I was hardly myself, and was laboring under strong excitement. I hardly know what I did after that. I remember of going to Charley’s room, and of hearing him cry out that the diamonds had been stolen. You know I had lain in an unconscious condition all night from this wound on my head. I asked that Sheriff Walton be sent for, and again became unconscious.” “Did you succeed in arousing your mother from her stupor?” “I called to the servants to assist her.” “How was she dressed?” “In a nightrobe.” “How about her feet?” “They were bare.” “Where was she taken, then?” “Directly downstairs.” “She was not able to walk about?” “Oh, no, she was carried down.” Young Sawtelle closed his eyes as if from weariness, and, quick as a flash, Nick lifted something from under the edge of the bed and thrust it into his pocket. “Now, about the burglars,” said the detective. “Do you know about what time it was when they entered?” “I have no idea.” “What was the first sound you heard?” “I thought I heard a window rattle, and arose to a sitting position.” “And then?” “I could see that there was some one in the room, and I sprang out of bed to get a revolver which I keep in the closet.” “You did not reach the closet?” “No. I met an iron knuckle and dropped to the floor.” “Did you visit the closet at all last night?” “No; I am sure that I did not.” “You caught no parting glimpse of the intruder’s face?” “No. There were two.” “How do you know that?” “I could see two forms outlined against the window.” “You heard them moving about the room?” “Only for a moment.” “Did they make much noise in moving about?” “Very little.”