us all you know of Mr. Joseph Crawford's movements last evening."

"He was at dinner, as usual, sir," said the butler, in his
monotonous drawl. "There were no guests, only the family. After
dinner Mr. Crawford went out for a time. He returned about nine
o'clock. I saw him come in, with his own key, and I saw him go
to his office. Soon after Mr. Porter called."

"Mr. Lemuel Porter?" asked the coroner.

"Yes, sir," said the butler; and Mr. Porter, who was one of the
jurors, gravely nodded his head in acquiescence.

"He stayed until about ten, I should say," went on the butler,
and again Mr. Porter gave an affirmative nod. "I let him out
myself," went on Lambert, "and soon after that I went to the
library to see if Mr. Crawford had any orders for me. He told me
of some household matters he wished me to attend to to-day, and
then he said he would sit up for some time longer, and I might go
to bed if I liked. A very kind and considerate man, sir, was Mr.
Crawford."

"And did you then go to bed?"

"Yes, sir. I locked up all the house, except the office. Mr.
Crawford always locks those windows himself, when he sits up
late. The ladies had already gone to their rooms; Mr. Hall was
away for the night, so I closed up the front of the house, and
went to bed. That's all I know about the matter, sir--until I
came down-stairs this morning."