"One moment," Brett's tone was peremptory and, with an unmistakable scowl, Winthrop sank down in his chair and leaned heavily on the desk. "What members of the family were in the house yesterday afternoon?" Winthrop thought for a moment before replying. "No one but my uncle and myself," he said reluctantly. "My mother and Miss Carew went out early to some bridge party, and did not return until just before dinner." "I see." Brett leaned back in his chair and contemplated Winthrop thoughtfully. "Mr. Winthrop," asked Douglas, breaking the short silence, "were you and your uncle always on good terms?" "Why, yes." Winthrop's twitching fingers closed unconsciously on the slender desk file, and as he spoke his shifting eyes dropped from Douglas' clear gaze, and fell on the sharp steel desk ornament in his hand. With a convulsive shudder he dropped it and sprang to his feet. "What's all this questioning about?" he demanded loudly. "I've had enough of this, you----" his hands clinched, and the blood flamed his pale face, a gurgle choked his utterance, and before Brett could reach him he fell prone across the desk. CHAPTER VII A PIECE OF ORIENTAL SILK "I'm glad you could come back, Mr. Hunter," said Brett, as Joshua opened the library door of the Carew residence and admitted Douglas. "Can you stay here all night?" "If necessary," replied Douglas, glancing at him in surprise. "I think it would be best. Mrs. Winthrop is completely unstrung; her niece, Miss Carew, prostrated from shock, and Mr. Philip Winthrop in bed with a bad attack of delirium tremens. In such a household your presence to-night might be invaluable if anything else were to happen--not that I am anticipating any further trouble or tragedies." "Very well, I will stay," agreed Douglas. "'Deed I'se mighty glad ter hyar dat," volunteered Joshua, who hovered just inside the door on the pretext of arranging some furniture. "But I dunno whar I'll put yo', suh. Miss Eleanor, she's in de gues' chambah, an' Annette's in de room back ob her's, and de nusses fo' Marse Philip has der spar rooms in der third flo'." "Never mind, Joshua, I can camp out in this room. That sofa looks very comfortable," and Douglas pointed to the large upholstered davenport which faced the empty fireplace. "Just a moment, Joshua," exclaimed Brett, as the old butler moved toward the door. "Did you see Senator Carew leave the house yesterday afternoon?" "No, suh." "Did he take luncheon here?" "No, suh; he cum in 'bout three o'clock; leastways dat was when he rung fo' me, an' I reckon he'd only jes' arrived, 'cause he had his hat an' coat on his arm." "What did he want with you?" "He axed me why Hamilton hadn't called fo' him at de Capitol as ordered, an' when I tole him dat Hamilton was a-sittin' in de stable doin' nuffin, he said I was ter go right out an' send him to de library--which I done." "Did you see Senator Carew after that?"