"I sent him out; thinking that we would search the room first." "That won't do; we shall want his assistance, call him in at once." Garth nodded and rang the bell. In a few minutes Robert, looking more terrified than ever, made his appearance. With a glance at Fanks to bespeak his attention--for the detective was lounging idly in a chair--Garth began his interrogation at once. "Robert," he said, with great deliberation, "how long have you been in the service of my cousin?" "Four years, sir." "Was he a kind master?" "A very kind master, sir. I would not wish for a better place." "Do you remember the twenty-first of June?" asked the barrister, in true police-court style. "Yes, sir," replied the man with a shiver. "It was the night that my master was murdered." "At what time, did Sir Gregory leave the house?" "I don't know, sir." "You don't know," repeated Garth, while Fanks pricked up his ears. "Were you not in attendance on him?" "No, sir. My master received a letter by the five o'clock post which seemed to upset him very much. After a time he recovered and sent me out to get seats for the theatre. When I got back at six he was gone. I never saw him again," declared the man in a shaking voice, "never again till I was called on to identify his dead body." "You had no idea where your master was going?" "No, sir! He did not tell me." "When you left Sir Gregory to get seats for the theatre how was he dressed?" "In a frock coat and light trousers, sir; but when I saw the body it was clothed in moleskin trousers and a flannel shirt." "Did you ever see that disguise in his possession?" "I can't say that I ever did, sir," replied the valet, hesitatingly. "But the week before a parcel came for Sir Gregory, which he would not let me open. I was about to do so when he stopped me. I think the parcel contained the clothes--the disguise." "Why do you think so?" "Because the parcel was soft, and felt like clothes. Besides it came from Weeks and Co., of Edgeware-road; and they sell more workmen's clothes than anything else." "On what day did the clothes arrive?" asked Fanks, idly. "On the fourteenth, sir. I am certain of the date, because Sir Gregory was taken ill in the morning." "Taken ill!" repeated Garth. "At what time was he taken ill?" "At breakfast, Mr. Garth, when he was reading the paper. He gave a cry and I came in to find him in a faint like. I got him a glass of brandy, and he dressed and went out. The parcel arrived in the afternoon." "What paper did your master take in?" "The 'Morning Post,' sir," replied the man, turning to Fanks, who had asked the question. "The 'Morning Post' of the fourteenth. And where is the paper?" "My master put it away, sir." "Oh! Do you happen to know where he put it?" "No, sir. I was out of the room at the time." Fanks sank back in his chair and nodded to Garth to continue the conversation; which the barrister did at once.