Q. When did he come to Jersey Street? A. At the end of July, last year. Q. When did he go away? A. The morning after Boxing Day. Q. Can you describe his appearance? A. He was of the middle height, with a fresh complexion, white hair, and a white beard growing all over his face. He was untidy about his clothes, and kept a good deal to his own room among a lot of books. I don't think he was quite right in his head. Q. Did he pay his rent regularly? A. Yes, except when he was away. He would go away for a week at a time. Q. Was he in this house on Christmas Eve? A. Yes, sir. He came back two days before Christmas. Q. Where had he been? A. I don't know; he did not say. Q. Did he have any visitors? A. He did. A tall, dark man and a lady. Q. What was the lady like? A. A little woman; I never saw her face, as she always kept her veil down. Q. What kind of a veil did she wear? A. A black gauze veil with velvet spots. Q. Did she come often to see Mr. Wrent? A. Yes. Four or five times. Q. When did she call last? A. On Christmas Eve. Q. At what hour? A. She came at seven, and went away at eight. I know that because she had supper with Mr. Wrent. Q. Did she leave the house? A. Yes. I let her out myself. Q. Did you ever hear any conversation between them? A. No. Mr. Wrent took care of that. I never got any chance of listening at keyholes with him. He was a sharp one, for all his craziness. Q. What was the male visitor like? A. He was tall and dark, with a black moustache. Q. Do you think he was a foreigner? A. I don't know. I never heard him speak. Mr. Wrent let him out, as usual. Q. When did he visit Mr. Wrent last? A. On Christmas Eve. He came with the lady. Q. Did he stay to supper also? A. No. He went away at half-past seven. Mr. Wrent let him out, as usual. Q. Did he go away altogether? A. I--I--I am not sure! (here the witness hesitated). Q. Why did Mr. Wrent give you the cloak? A. To make me hold my tongue about the dark man. Q. Why? A. Because I saw him in the back yard. Q. On what night? A. On the night of Christmas Eve, about half-past eight. CHAPTER XVI MRS. VRAIN AT BAY "You saw the dark man in the back yard on Christmas Eve?" repeated Lucian, much surprised by this discovery. "Yes, I did," replied Rhoda decisively, "at half-past eight o'clock. I went out into the yard to put some empty bottles into the shed, and I saw the man standing near the fence, looking at the back of No. 13. When he heard me coming out he rushed past me and out by the side passage. The moon was shining, and I saw him as plain as plain." "Did he seem afraid?" "Yes, he did; and didn't want to be seen, neither. I told Mr. Wrent, and he promised me a cloak if I held my tongue. He said the dark man was waiting in the yard until the lady had gone, when he was coming in again." "But the lady, you say, went at eight, and you saw the man half an hour later?"