The Old Man in the CornerOrczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness
General
The Old Man in the Corner
Orczy, Emmuska Orczy, Baroness
Detective and mystery stories, English
"The coroner still looked puzzled and thoughtful. It seemed at first as
if he wished to press his point further; every one felt that some deep
import had lain behind his examination of the witness, and all were on
tenter-hooks as to what the next evidence might bring forth. The Earl of
Brockelsby had waited a minute or two, then, at a sign from the coroner,
had left the witness-box in order to have a talk with his solicitor.
"At first he paid no attention to the depositions of the cashier and
hall porter of the Castle Hotel, but gradually it seemed to strike him
that curious statements were being made by these witnesses, and a frown
of anxious wonder settled between his brows, whilst his young face lost
some of its florid hue.
"Mr. Tremlett, the cashier at the hotel, had been holding the attention
of the court. He stated that the Hon. Robert Ingram de Genneville had
arrived at the hotel at eight o'clock on the morning of the 13th; he had
the room which he usually occupied when he came to the 'Castle,' namely,
No. 21, and he went up to it immediately on his arrival, ordering some
breakfast to be brought up to him.
"At eleven o'clock the Earl of Brockelsby called to see his brother and
remained with him until about twelve. In the afternoon the deceased went
out, and returned for his dinner at seven o'clock in company with a
gentleman whom the cashier knew well by sight, Mr. Timothy Beddingfield,
the lawyer, of Paradise Street. The gentlemen had their dinner
downstairs, and after that they went up to the Hon. Mr. de Genneville's
room for coffee and cigars.
"'I could not say at what time Mr. Beddingfield left,' continued the
cashier, 'but I rather fancy I saw him in the hall at about 9.15 p.m. He
was wearing an Inverness cape over his dress clothes and a Glengarry
cap. It was just at the hour when the visitors who had come down for the
night from London were arriving thick and fast; the hall was very full,
and there was a large party of Americans monopolising most of our
_personnel_, so I could not swear positively whether I did see Mr.
Beddingfield or not then, though I am quite sure that it was Mr. Timothy
Beddingfield who dined and spent the evening with the Hon. Mr. de
Genneville, as I know him quite well by sight. At ten o'clock I am off
duty, and the night porter remains alone in the hall.'
"Mr. Tremlett's evidence was corroborated in most respects by a waiter
and by the hall porter. They had both seen the deceased come in at seven
o'clock in company with a gentleman, and their description of the
latter coincided with that of the appearance of Mr. Timothy
Beddingfield, whom, however, they did not actually know.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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