"I did, sir. I met Colonel Baker on his return from Baltimore. After consulting with the Secretary of War, he sent me to tell Captain Lloyd to join him at the War Department." "Describe what took place when you reached Captain Lloyd's room that night," directed the judge advocate; and Symonds gave a dramatic account of the discovery of Lloyd's dead body and Goddard's unconscious form. When he had finished, the judge advocate continued his questions. "Were any chairs or tables overturned in the room, as if there had been a fight?" "No, sir; not one." "You say Captain Lloyd was apparently sleeping naturally in bed. Explain your meaning a little more clearly." "Why, sir, he was lying there on his side covered by a bed quilt. Anyone would have thought, as I did, that he was still asleep." "Did you send for a doctor?" "I did, sir. Doctor Ward arrived a few moments before the provost marshal." "Did you search for the important despatch?" "I did, sir; but without finding a trace of either the pocketbook or the despatch." "Where did you find the coat Captain Lloyd had worn that afternoon?" "Hanging on the back of the chair by his bed." "What did you do when the provost marshal arrived?" "I turned the rooms over to him, left Doctor Ward in charge of Major Goddard, and hastened to the War Department to report to the Secretary of War." The judge advocate walked over and conferred with Colonel Andrews; then turned back and addressed Warren courteously. "I have finished, Mr. Senator. Do you wish to cross-examine the witness?" Warren nodded in the affirmative, glanced over his notes, then handed a slip of paper to the judge advocate, who read the question aloud as he pasted it in the book in front of him. "What proof have you, beyond Captain Lloyd's word, that he _took_ that despatch from the dead confederate, Major Pegram?" "None, sir," exclaimed Symonds, much astonished. "Would you question a dead man's word, Mr. Senator?" inquired the judge advocate sharply. "I would, sir," declared Warren firmly. He rose and faced Colonel Andrews. "I respectfully submit to this court that I seriously object to the introduction of hearsay evidence." "And I contend, sir," exclaimed the judge advocate, "that Symonds' testimony is direct evidence. He saw the despatch in Captain Lloyd's hand." "You are right there, sir," said Warren courteously. "But Symonds _did not see_ Captain Lloyd take that despatch from the dead body of the Confederate. He believes that that paper was taken from Major Pegram only because Captain Lloyd _told him so_--and _that_, sir, is hearsay evidence. And I demand in justice to my client, whose life hangs in the balance, that hearsay evidence be not accepted in this trial." Major Lane hastily scribbled a few lines, and handed the paper to the judge advocate, who immediately read the question aloud: