"Yes."

"You do not know who wrote the letter?"

"I do not."

The coroner put the tips of his fingers and thumbs together and
balanced on the balls of his feet. "Do you happen to know the name of
the lady with whom your uncle had an appointment on the night of his
death at his rooms?"

"No," answered the witness curtly.

"When was the last time you saw the deceased alive?"

"About three o'clock on the day before that of his death."

"Anything occur at that time throwing any light on what subsequently
occurred?"

"Nothing whatever."

"Very good, Mr. Cunningham. You may be excused, if Mr. Johns is
through with you, unless some member of the jury has a question he
would like to ask."

One of the jury had. He was a dried-out wisp of a man wrinkled like a
winter pippin. "Was your uncle engaged to be married at the time of
his death?" he piped.