"Well, it doesn't seem to have fulfilled its mission." The coroner carefully turned a page in his notebook and made an entry. "I am very much obliged to you, Doctor," as Marsh prepared to depart. "I wish you would let me know when Miss Carew is in fit condition to see me." "I will; good-bye," and the busy physician beat a hasty retreat. "Suppose you get the butler, Brett," said the coroner when the two men were alone. "May I suggest, Dr. Penfield, that you allow Mr. Hunter to be present when the servants are examined," began Brett. "He is deeply interested in the murder of Senator Carew, and is assisting me in trying to unravel that mystery, and I think"--deliberately--"this French maid's singular death has something to do with the other tragedy." "Indeed!" The coroner's eyes kindled with fresh interest. "Certainly, Brett, if you think Mr. Hunter should be present, call him in. I will be glad of his assistance." The detective hastened out of the room, to return within a few minutes with Douglas and Nicodemus. The old darky was gray with fright, and his eyes had not regained their natural size since being awakened by the commotion attending the breaking in of the door. He had lain in his bed, too frightened to get up, until Douglas entered his room and hauled him out from under the bedclothes and made him go downstairs and build the fire for the cook, Sophy, who was more composed than her brother, and busied herself in preparing coffee and an early breakfast for those who desired it. "Is there such a thing as a long scaling ladder on the premises?" inquired the coroner, after he had asked Nicodemus' full name and length of service. "No, suh; dey isn't, only a pa'r ob steps so high"--demonstrating with his hand. "Dat's der onliest one on de place." "Is any house being built in this neighborhood?" "No, suh, dar isn't." "How did you come to put the maid in that room?" "I didn't put her dar," in quick defence; "she went dar ob her own accord; 'deed dat's so, Marse Douglas," appealing to him directly. "De Cunnel, he done tole Sophy an' me ter fix three rooms fo' de ladies, an' a room fo' yo', suh; he done say nuffin' about de maid, Annette." "Then you were not expecting her?" "No, suh. I was 'sprised when Miss Eleanor brunged her. After I haid shown de ladies ter dey rooms I took Annette up ter de third flo', an' tole her she could take de front room dar." "Then how did she come to be occupying the other room?" asked the coroner quickly. "It were dis-away, suh; jes' befo' dinnah she cum ter me an' Sophy an' say she doan like de room in de third flo'----" "Why not?" broke in Penfield. "She said it were too far off from her folks, dat she had to be down whar she could hear dem. I tole her dat de warn't no room down on de second flo', dat dey was all occupied, an' she says, quick-like, dat she had jes' been in de room in de wing, an' dat she'd sleep dar."