"I have not that honor," with quiet dignity, and a ripple of applause sounded through the room. Goddard's eyes strayed in Nancy's direction, but he could not see the rich color which mantled her pale face. She dropped her eyes instantly to hide their tell-tale message. If _he_ could not see, others should not. "When did you last see Captain Lloyd?" "In Winchester, the day before I returned here." "Why did he not come back with you?" "He did not inform me." "Where were you on the afternoon of Monday, March 6th, last?" "I went for a drive with my attendant, Donnally, and did not return to Mrs. Lane's until some time after four o'clock." "State to the court what occurred after your arrival at the boarding house?" "With Donnally's assistance I went directly to my room. He informed me that dinner was being served, but I had no appetite and did not care to go in and join a lot of strangers. When we reached the door of our sitting-room I told Donnally to go down stairs and get his dinner; that I would ring for him if I needed his assistance. I then entered the sitting-room and felt my way to a chair by the fireplace. There is not much furniture in the room, and I was familiar enough with my surroundings to find my way about without much difficulty----" he hesitated. "Go on," prompted the judge advocate. "Tell your story in your own way." "I have no idea how long I sat in that chair, whether it was five minutes or half an hour, for I was deep in thought," continued Goddard. "Without any warning my nose started bleeding--a way it has since I was wounded in the face by the explosion of a pistol. The bell was in the next room, so I felt my way to the communicating door and into the room...." "One moment," interrupted the judge advocate. "Was the door closed?" "Yes, sir; but not locked. I should judge I was about half way toward the fire place, where I knew the bell was hung, when I became conscious that there was some one in the bedroom with me. "I cannot tell you exactly what it was," went on Goddard, after a slight pause, "that made me think that. I stood still for a moment and turned slowly around trying to trace the faint, very faint sound I thought I had heard. Then I lost my bearings. I could not remember in which direction the door was, nor where the fireplace was located." "Why didn't you call out?" demanded the judge advocate, sharply. "I was too confused. Only the blind can know and understand my feeling of over-powering helplessness," declared Goddard, earnestly. "I stepped forward, tripped, and fell with all my weight, striking against the iron fender before I could save myself. I knew nothing more until I regained consciousness the next day and found myself in bed, with a trained nurse in attendance." Everyone in the court room followed Goddard's story with breathless interest. Nancy never took her eyes from his face; she sat as if hypnotized. "What did you trip over, Major?" inquired the judge advocate.