"At ten o'clock generally, but some time eleven o'clock--even midnight--it depens." "What time did you go to bed on Tuesday?" "At eleven, sar." "What had you been doing during the evening?" "I had been at a restaurant wiz some friends." "And when did you return?" "At about half-pas' ten." "Did you come in the back way?" "Yes, sar." "How did you get in?" "My wife, she open ze door." "And you saw nobody as you came in?" He paused almost imperceptibly. "No, sar," he answered. But I was now convinced that he was holding something back. "Very well; you can go," said the Coroner. The fellow bowed himself out with a good deal of quiet dignity. "I kinder fancy that man knows something he won't tell," said the Coroner. "Now, we've seen every one but the workmen," he continued, wearily, mopping his forehead. "I don't believe one of them knows a thing; still, I've got to go through with it, I suppose," and going to the door he beckoned them all in. There were five of them, including the foreman, and they appeared to be quiet, respectable young men. After looking at the dead man intently for some minutes, they all asserted that they had never laid eyes on him before. "Now have any of you noticed during the three days you have been working here anybody who might have taken the key, kept it for some hours, and returned it without your noticing it?" inquired the Coroner. "We've seen no strangers," the foreman replied, cautiously. "Who have you seen?" The foreman was evidently prepared for this question. "Well, sir, we've seen altogether six people: Jim, and Joe, and Tony, Mr. McGorry, Miss Derwent, and the Frinchman," he replied, checking them off on his fingers. "When did the Frenchman come up here?" "Yistidy morning, sir; he said he come to see the decorations, and he come again about three; but he didn't stay long. I warn't a-going to have him hanging round here interfering!" "Did any of his actions at the time strike you as suspicious?" "No, sir," acknowledged the foreman. "And Miss Derwent; when did you see her?" "I didn't see her myself in the morning, but he"--with a nod towards one of the men,--"he saw her look in as she was waiting for the elevator, and in the afternoon she come right in." "Did she say anything?" "Yes, sir; she said the paint and papers were mighty pretty." "When you saw Miss Derwent," said the Coroner, addressing the man whom the foreman had pointed out, "what was she doing?" "She was standing just inside the hall." "Was her hand on the door knob?" "I didn't notice, sir." "Did the young lady say anything?" "When she saw me a-looking at her, she just said: 'How pretty!' and went away." "Have any of you seen Mr. or Mrs. Atkins, or either of their girls, since you have been working here?" They all replied in the negative.