went? - whether he went along the passage leading to the garden or
up the stairs to the offices?"

The sergeant considered for a moment, an Captain Tremayne became
conscious for the first time that morning that his pulses were
throbbing. At last his dreadful suspense came to an end.

"No, sir. Captain Tremayne turned the corner, and was out of
my sight, seeing that I didn't go beyond the guardroom doorway."

Sir Terence's lips parted with a snap of impatience. "But you
must have heard," he insisted. "You must have heard his steps -
whether they went upstairs or straight on."

"I am afraid I didn't take notice, sir."

"But even without taking notice it seems impossible that you should
not have heard the direction of his steps. Steps going up stairs
sound quite differently from steps walking along the level. Try
to think."

The sergeant considered again. But the president interposed. The
testiness which Sir Terence had been at no pains to conceal annoyed
Sir Harry, and this insistence offended his sense of fair play.

"The witness has already said that the didn't take notice. I am
afraid it can serve no good purpose to compel him to strain his
memory. The court could hardly rely upon his answer after what he
has said already."